Celebrate Renton's Success in Delivering on its Promises

June 6, 2003 - The entire community is invited to a grand Ahead of the Curve Celebration on Saturday, June 7, to mark Renton’s numerous recent accomplishments.

"Our city has been transformed over the past few years,” said Mayor Jesse Tanner. “We can all be proud of our new IKEA Performing Arts Center, community pavilion building, Renton Technical College’s Technology Resource Center, Downtown Piazza, new schools, City Center Parking Garage, Valley Medical Center’s growing network of primary and specialty care clinics, regional transit center, new businesses and hotels and other amenities.

“We’re keeping our promise to make sure we stay ahead of the curve,” Mayor Tanner said.

Saturday, June 7, will be a day filled with family fun featuring the excitement of a free concert by San Francisco’s Super Diamond performing a tribute to Neil Diamond, free cake, tours of the new IKEA Performing Arts Center and recently renovated Renton High School and other activities.

Super Diamond will perform a free concert from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Downtown Piazza, located on the north side of Third Avenue between Burnett Avenue and Logan Avenue, on Saturday, June 7. Every one of us has at least one memory linked to a Neil Diamond song. For more than a decade, Super Diamond has thrilled audiences around the United States with their stirring renditions of Neil Diamond’s music. Locally, they have performed at the Summer Nights at the Pier, the Fourth of Jul-Ivar’s and venues such as the Showbox.

The celebration will also feature free tours from noon to 3:30 p.m. of the new IKEA Performing Arts Center and the recently renovated Renton High School. Both are located at 400 South Second Street. Free refreshments will be available.

The 550-seat state-of-the-art performing arts center was made possible with the support of both the Renton School District’s bond measure and an additional $1.5 million in contributions from IKEA, the City of Renton and other public and private sector sources.

The celebration at the Downtown Piazza will kick off at 12:30 p.m. with special remarks by Renton Superintendent Dolores Gibbons, Mayor Tanner and representatives from Valley Medical Center, the Renton Technical College and the Greater Renton Chamber of Commerce.

The ceremonies will also mark the opening of the City Center Parking Garage. The garage will hold up to 563 vehicles and will be used for both short- and long-term parking. The entire project cost was $10 million; however, it is more than $1 million under budget.

Parking in the garage will be free on Saturday, June 7.

In addition, there will be an unveiling of the Renton School Art Project at the Downtown Pavilion. Ten schools participated in painting a sheet of four-foot by eight-foot plywood. The plywood will help beatify the construction fence around the Downtown Pavilion building this summer. Art classes from the following schools participated in the project: Sierra Heights Elementary School, Hazelwood Elementary School, Cascade Elementary School, Hazen High School, Highlands Elementary School, H.O.M.E., Benson Hill Elementary School, Talbot Hill Elementary School, Tiffany Park Elementary School, and Sierra Heights Elementary School.

Finally, the Renton Arts Commission will dedicate the Summer Breeze sculpture at the Downtown Piazza.

Following the firing of special confetti streamer cannons, volunteers from the Piazza Renton Committee will be serving free cake and sparkling cider to the first 1,000 people.

At the Piazza, you’ll also find a series of displays about the Present and Future of Renton courtesy of the City of Renton, Greater Renton Chamber of Commerce, Renton Visitor’s Connection, Renton School District, Renton Technical College and Valley Medical Center.

The Ahead of the Curve Celebration is just the exclamation point of a weeklong series of exciting community events including:

The dedication of the City Center Parking Garage at 11:30 a.m. and the Greater Renton Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards, at 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 5.

The Twinkle Zone, Renton Players original comedy, at 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 7, at the IKEA Performing Arts Center. Donations accepted at the door.

Opening of Renton Downtown Farmer’s Market, at the Downtown Piazza on Tuesday, June 10. The opening of the market is presented in part by Puget Sound Energy. More than 50 vendors and farmers will sell a bounty of fresh, locally grown farm products, including organic fruits and vegetables, cut flowers, eggs, baked goods, herbs and more! The only Tuesday farmers market in the Puget Sound region.

The celebration is proudly sponsored by the City of Renton, Greater Renton Chamber of Commerce, Renton Visitor’s Connection, Renton School District, Renton Technical College and Valley Medical Center.

Saturday, June 7 The Ahead of the Curve Day at the Downtown Piazza
City Proclamation making it officially Ahead of the Curve Day

12:30 p.m. Brief remarks: Mayor, Renton School District, Greater Renton Chamber of Commerce, Renton Technical College, and Valley Medical Center

Dedication of Summer Breeze sculpture at the Downtown PiazzaUnveiling of the Renton School Art Project at the Downtown Pavilion

12:45 p.m. Cake with Free Coffee and Sparking Cider – served by member of the Piazza Renton Committee

1 – 2:30 p.m. Free Concert – Super Diamond (a tribute to Neil Diamond)

Noon – 3 p.m. Displays: Present and Future of RentonNoon – 3:30 p.m. Tours of the IKEA Performing Arts Center

Tours of the recently renovated Renton High School

7 p.m. The Twinkle Zone, Renton Players original comedy, at 7 p.m., IKEA Performing Arts Center. Donations accepted at the door.

Tuesday, June 10 Opening of Renton Downtown Farmer’s Market