About Kent Parks

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Aerial view of Lake Meridian Park with Mount Rainier in the distance

What We Do:

Kent Parks is a nationally recognized, award winning parks and recreation system that:

  • Designs, builds and maintains parks, trails, natural areas and athletic complexes with guidance from the Parks and Recreation Commission;
  • Provides recreation programs; oversees cultural arts programs with guidance from the Arts Commission;
  • Funds human services programs with direction from the Human Services Commission;
  • Operates and manages Riverbend Golf Complex; and
  • Maintains 28 city facilities.
The mission of Kent Parks is "Dedicated to Enriching Lives."  We are committed to providing safe and inviting parks and facilities, meaningful, inclusive and diverse recreational programs, cultural activities and access to critical human and social services.

Our staff is pro-active, responsive and ethical in their dedication to influencing the following community outcomes throughout the City:

•          Social Equity and Inclusion

•          Economic Development

•          Placemaking and Brand Identity

•          Health and Wellness

•          Youth Development (out of school time)

•          Healthy Aging

•          Public Land and Facility Stewardship

•          Environmental and Climate Sustainability

•          Active Transportation (walking, bicycling, skateboarding, roller-skating, etc.)


Kent Parks offers a variety of experiences for an average $11 monthly investment by each Kent resident (per capita), they have free, dawn to dusk, 7 day a week access to:

  • 55 parks (868 acres of nature)
  • 3 skate parks
  • 11 tennis courts
  • 9 basketball courts
  • 28 miles of trails for biking, walking, jogging, etc.
  • 26 playgrounds
  • Play water fountain
  • Indoor walking program
  • Lifeguarded swim beach in the summer
  • Summer concerts (Town Square & Lake Meridian)
  • Summer playground program and free meals at 5 parks
  • After school or school break programs at 13 elementary schools
  • Late Night Teen programs at 2 middle schools
  • Community-wide 4th of July event
  • Public Art Gallery and City-wide Art Collections
  • Drop-in use at the Kent Commons and Senior Activity Center
  • Health and Human services
  • Indigent Counsel
  • Access to hundreds of free programs and events
  • Access to partnered/funded social/human services
  • Scholarships that provide financial assistance for qualifying programs
    ...and more!


For an additional per item fee-based investment, residents also have access to thousands of programs and classes, golf, 5k/10k runs, shelter rentals, sports leagues, events, trips, tours, enrichment activities, and summer camps.

To learn more about Kent Parks, please watch our Kent Civics 101 session.