February eNewsletter

February 2021 eNewsletter

Welcome to the City of Kentwood's monthly eNewsletter. Stay up to date about community news, events and programs happening this month.

City of Kentwood Operations Update

The Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE, has reopened to the community and resumed all indoor sports and group fitness classes with safety precautions in place to help stop the spread of COVID-19. The facility also has returned to regular business hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday. Face coverings are required for anyone who enters and check-in is required for contact-tracing purposes.

City Hall remains open for essential in-person services. Visitors are required to wear a face covering and practice physical distancing. Residents are encouraged to continue to access City services online at kentwood.us or call or email City staff. City bill payments may be made through U.S. mail, electronically using ACH or the drop box or drive-up teller tube located outside City Hall.

For more information about our operational changes in response to COVID-19, visit kentwood.us/COVID.

Explore Board and Commission Openings

Graphic includes a background photo of city chambers, text that reads: "Get involved. Serve on a City of Kentwood board or commission!"

Interested in getting involved and serving the community? We have openings on our Arts Commission, Historic Preservation Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals. You can learn more and fill out an application on our website.

Kentwood Launches a Second Little Free Pantry

With your support and generosity, we have launched a second Little Free Pantry. It’s at the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, 4950 Breton Ave. SE. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Our Little Free Pantry at the Kentwood Activities Center also remains available year-round from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday. Anyone can utilize or donate to both pantry locations. No applications are necessary and no questions are asked. More information about Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry is available at kentwood.us/littlefreepantry.

Run in the Valentine’s Dash 5K – Feb. 13

Our Valentine’s Dash 5K is set to return Saturday, Feb. 13 and again will benefit Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry. Whether you plan to participate with your sweetheart or go solo, this 5K is a great way to kick off the holiday weekend and foster a love for running.

The 5K route will include a combination of trails and paved pathways starting and ending at East Paris Nature Park, 5995 East Paris Ave. SE. COVID-19 precautionary measures will be in place, including staggered start times beginning at 11 a.m. Search for festive colors fit for the holiday in your closet as you lace up for this fun run – Valentine’s-themed attire is encouraged. For more information and to register, click here. Volunteers are needed for the event. If interested, you can sign up here.

Join the Freeze Fest Disc Golf Tournament Feb. 20

Disc golfer throws his disc toward a basket in winter.

Once again, we’ve partnered with Great Lakes Disc to host the annual Freeze Fest doubles disc golf tournament and food drive on Saturday, Feb. 20. Disc golfers of all levels are invited to join the best-shot doubles competition at Jaycee Park. The event will benefit Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry. Pre-registration is available online at kentwood.us/freezefest.

Shop Kentwood: A Community Effort to Support Local Businesses

Graphic features text that reads: "Support Local. Shop Kentwood." Background image is of a person wearing gloves packing a to-go meal into a brown paper bag. The City of Kentwood seal is in the top left corner.

Now more than ever, our local businesses need our support – and that’s especially true for restaurants. While indoor dining has resumed, capacity limits mean we need to find other ways to support our favorite restaurants. When you’re not dining in, consider takeout or delivery. Nearly every restaurant in Kentwood is offering one or both options. Visit our website at kentwood.us/ShopKentwood to view a list of open restaurants and unique ways you can support them. When you Shop Kentwood, you help keep businesses open, workers employed and our local economy strong! Thank you for your support.

Free Wi-Fi Now Available at Kentwood Parks and City Campus

We’re pleased to now offer Wi-Fi at many Kentwood parks and on our main City campus, thanks to CARES Act funding allocated to increase free public Wi-Fi access throughout Kent County. Please enjoy use of the Wi-Fi in the following locations:

Bowen Station Park: 4499 Bowen Blvd. SE
City Campus - City Hall: 4900 Breton Ave. SE
City Campus - Volleyball Courts: 5068 Breton Ave. SE
East Paris Nature Park: 5995 East Paris Ave. SE
Home Acres Park: 145 Farnham St. SE
Jaycee Park: 1088 Gentian Drive SE
Kellogg Woods Park: 275 Kellogg Woods Park Drive SE
Northeast Park: 1900 Middleground Drive SE
Old Farm Park: 2350 Embro Drive SE
Pinewood Park: 1999 Wolfboro Drive SE
Stanaback Park: 3717 Whitebud Drive
Stauffer Station Park: 2360 52nd St. SE
Veterans Memorial Park: 355 48th St. SE

Learn more about Kentwood parks at kentwood.us/ExploreOurParks.

Kent District Library Resumes In-Branch Hours

Kent District Library has resumed in-branch hours, welcoming the community back inside to enjoy library services. For the health and safety of its patrons, all branches have the following COVID-19 safety protocols in place:

Building capacity is set at 30%.
Properly worn face coverings are required.
Private study rooms and play spaces are closed.
All visits are limited to two hours.

High-risk patrons are encouraged to visit during the first hour of the day when branches typically are less busy. For more information on KDL, including the Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch hours, visit kdl.org.

Virtual Seminar for Aspiring

Small Developers – Feb. 18

This seminar on Thursday, Feb. 18 will focus on project formation for small-scale real estate development. The facilitator will take a big-picture view of neighborhood-based development to help attendees analyze what makes a good project, how a building makes money and how developers of small-scale projects interact with the broader network of professionals in the area. The seminar will be offered in an online format from 4 to 8 p.m. Registration is $89 until Feb. 12, after which the cost will increase to $109. Michigan residents interested in a scholarship to attend the event can apply online. For more information and to register for the event, click here.

This event is a part of Division United, a project with The Rapid and the cities of Grand Rapids, Kentwood and Wyoming to help guide new investments along the Silver Line bus route on Division Avenue. The project will help improve traffic and make it easier to walk and bike and create a vision for new development. Learn more at divisionunited.org.

Veterans Memorial Park Luminary Walk – Feb. 26

Come explore Kentwood's Veterans Memorial Park like you have never seen it before! There will be approximately .75 miles of pathway lit up with luminaries decorated by community members. This event is free and open to anyone to participate. The entire event is outside so please bundle up so you and your family can stay comfortable.

If you are interested in decorating one or more of our luminaries for this fun family event stop by the Kentwood Activities Center during business hours: Monday-Thursday between 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. or Fridays 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Return decorated bags by Feb. 25.

Winter Taxes Due Feb. 14

Winter property tax payments are due Feb. 14. With Feb. 14 falling on a Sunday, payments will be accepted on Monday, Feb. 15.

As we work together to limit in-person transactions and help stop the spread of COVID-19, we strongly encourage you to mail your winter tax payment or take it to the drop box or drive-up teller located in the median on the south side of City Hall. If you must pay in person at City Hall, please have your check prepared prior to arrival. Cash transactions should be exact change.

Thank you for your partnership in helping to keep our community healthy and safe. To find more information about tax payment options, visit our website. For more information or questions, contact the Treasurer’s office at 616.554.0761.

Looking to get out of the house? Kentwood Parks and Recreation has partnered with Bill & Paul's Sporthaus to bring you a Show Shoe Clinic at Covenant Park, 3724 Shaffer Ave SE.

No matter if you are new to this outdoor activity or have done a little snowshoeing, come out and enjoy the outdoors.

Your $5 registration will include the snowshoes and an opportunity to go out to enjoy some of our trails. We will also have an outdoor scavenger the family can play while walking our trail.

Pre-register at bit.ly/KentwoodSnowShoe.

Personal Property Tax Statements Due Feb. 22

If you own a business in Michigan, you most likely need to file an annual Personal Property Tax Statement. Please be aware personal property tax statements are due Monday, Feb. 22. The City Assessor accepts statements to be filed online. To learn more about personal property tax statements and the e-filing option, please visit kentwood.us/personalproperty. If you have any questions, please call the Assessor’s office at 616.554.0723.

When to Expect to Get Your COVID-19 Vaccination

As COVID-19 vaccines are being distributed more broadly across the state, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has released a tentative timeline for when you can expect to have access to a vaccination. You can view the graphic above or click here to view it online. To stay up to date on the latest news regarding the COVID-19 vaccines, visit Michigan.gov/COVIDVaccine or VaccinateWestMI.com.

Community Resources

If you need help with food, housing, paying bills or other items, please call 211, text your ZIP code to 898211* or search online any time to get connected with resources. Operators offer help in 180+ languages. To explore more resources, please visit kentwood.us/resources.

Are you interested in joining the City of Kentwood team? All current job listings are posted here on our website.

For more information, please visit our website: www.kentwood.us

4900 Breton Ave. SE Kentwood, MI 49508 | 616.698.9610 | Contact Us

City Hall opens daily at 7:30 a.m. and closes Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 4:30 p.m.; Tuesdays at 6 p.m.; and Fridays at noon.

This is a monthly eNewsletter. You are receiving it because you have done business with the City of Kentwood or have signed up for news about our community events and programs. If you would like to no longer receive this, you may unsubscribe below.