By City of Kentwood

All are invited to explore how local public works agencies make a difference in their communities during the third annual Family Open House, which will include complimentary food, family-friendly activities and giveaways, on Wednesday, May 16.

The Kentwood Department of Public Works is hosting the event in partnership with the Kent County Road Commission and the American Public Works Association in anticipation of National Public Works Week, which is slated for May 20-26.

From 4-7 p.m., families will have the opportunity to go behind the scenes at the Kentwood Public Works Facility, located at 5068 Breton Road SE, to interact with the employees and equipment that keep the community safe, clean and functioning smoothly.

Prior to the open house, Kentwood Mayor Steven Kepley provided a proclamation for National Public Works Week during the regular City Commission meeting on Tuesday, May 1.

“Services provided by public works departments touch many aspects of residents’ day-to-day lives,” said John Gorney, Kentwood director of public works. “In West Michigan, we maintain thousands of miles of pipes underground and streets above ground. We are responsible for keeping parks maintained, and we service municipal vehicles such as police cruisers and fire trucks.

“The open house will be a great, family-friendly way to learn more about what we do — and provide an up-close look at the equipment we use.”

The open house will feature giveaways, hands-on activities for kids and a fleet of vehicles to explore. Live maintenance and repair demonstrations will allow residents to learn about road improvements as well as the safe disposal of household waste.

Complimentary food and refreshments will be provided.

“This event provides a wonderful opportunity to showcase our ongoing efforts dedicated to improving our public infrastructure,” said Steve Warren, managing director of Kent County Road Commission. “Crew members are eager to address questions and explain different aspects of our work.”

Additionally, winners of the Work Zone Safety Poster competition will be honored at 5:30 p.m. Sponsored by Kent County Road Commission and the City of Kentwood, the poster contest invited third-grade students from across the county to design a “caution sign” focusing on safety tips for driving through a work zone. A gallery of more than 100 entries will be displayed.

“We look forward to this event every year as it’s a great opportunity to meet and engage with residents of all ages about the work we do in a fun, relaxed environment,” Gorney said.

For more information see the calendar at kentwood.us/calendar .