Remote Surveillance Trailer in Renton, WA

RENTON, WA (DECEMBER 5, 2025) – The City of Renton is proud to announce the purchase of 12.5 acres of land on the Cedar River. The property will be transformed into a new public park. The acquisition marks a major step toward expanding recreational opportunities, preserving natural spaces, and improving the quality of life for residents.

Encompassing 1,500 feet of riverfront along the scenic Cedar River, the property fulfills a longstanding vision to expand the Cedar River Park. This property was identified in the 2006 Tri-Park Master Plan and recommended for future acquisition in the 2011 and 2020 Parks, Recreation, and Natural Areas Plans. The acquisition will enhance public access to the riverfront, facilitate lasting shoreline restoration, and support the growth of Cedar River salmon recovery efforts.

“Opportunities like this are incredibly rare. It’s uncommon for a property of such high value to become available, and even less likely that the circumstances will align for the city to acquire it. This purchase will benefit the community for generations, creating a lasting asset that reflects our shared commitment to the city’s future,” said Renton Mayor Armondo Pavone.

The property has been owned by the Merlino family for over 50 years and served as the original headquarters of Stoneway Concrete.

“The Merlino family is excited that this legacy property will be preserved as a park for the enjoyment of the entire Renton community,” stated Gary Merlino, a member of the family.

“This acquisition is tremendous opportunity to enhance the already vibrant quality of life we enjoy in Renton,” said Gina Estep, City of Renton Community and Economic Development Administrator. “Seeing this land transform into a vibrant public amenity fills me with immense pride, knowing it will be a source of endless joy, active recreation, and a vital connection to nature for the future generations of Renton.”

Amanda Free, City of Renton’s Economic Development Director added, "Public investments, such as the expansion of this park signal long-term confidence in the area, encouraging private sector growth and catalyzing new economic activity. These combined investments help create high-quality amenities that attract and retain a skilled workforce.”

“This property has been a shared priority for our community and our department for many years, and recent engagement reaffirmed the public’s continued support and interest in this site. We’re excited to begin master planning with residents and design a park that restores the river’s natural character, expands access to recreation to everyone, and complements the pool, community center, and existing park spaces next door," said Maryjane Van Cleave, Parks & Recreation Administrator.

The city’s recent Parks, Recreation, Open Space Plan (PROS Plan) engagement reaffirmed the community’s long-standing support for expanding Cedar River Park and the priorities identified in the Tri-Park Plan.

With the acquisition complete, the Parks and Recreation Department will begin a focused master planning process to refine the design and evaluate specific amenities. Community input will continue to guide this work as we shape a park that enhances recreation, restores natural habitat, and strengthens connections to Cedar River.

About the City of Renton

The City of Renton, Washington, with a population of 108,800 (2024), is located on the southeast shore of Lake Washington, just south of Seattle. Renton's strong economic base, diverse marketplace, and favorable business climate have attracted nationally recognized companies wishing to provide employees and their families with an outstanding quality of life. Renton is the home of Boeing, PACCAR, IKEA, Super Bowl Champion (2014) Seattle Seahawks, two-time (2016 & 2019) MLS champion and CONCACAF Champion (2022) Seattle Sounders FC (in 2024), and the eternal resting place of rock icon Jimi Hendrix. You can find more information on our website, news releases, Facebook, Twitter, and Nextdoor pages.

About SRM Development

Founded in 1999, SRM Development is a privately held real estate and construction management firm specializing in multifamily, senior housing, affordable, and mixed-use projects across the western United States. With more than 3,000 residential units and 2,000,000 square feet of commercial space, SRM focuses on creating high-quality, community-centered developments that deliver long-term value to its investors and the local communities.

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RENTON, WA (DECEMBER 5, 2025) – The City of Renton is excited to announce its new campaign, "Renton, Ready to Play!", designed to unite the city and business community with a single, energized voice in anticipation of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This initiative aims to attract residents, visitors, and businesses to participate in this global sporting event on a local level.

As the proud home of the Seattle Sounders FC and with Renton’s strategic location in the region, the city will play a key role throughout the World Cup. The event is expected to draw approximately 750,000 visitors to the area.

Renton will be “Ready to Play” embracing the excitement by hosting free community watch parties right in the heart of downtown at our new Legacy Square. Keep an eye out for more details in January.

With many new faces expected to come to Renton this summer, partnerships and collaborations with local businesses and community groups will help activate the city and promote new and unique community opportunities.

“The World Cup is a worldwide celebration. Our ‘Renton, Ready to Play!’ campaign takes full advantage of this moment in the global spotlight to showcase the best of our city,” said Mayor Armondo Pavone. “We’re highlighting local art, culture and the best of our gathering spaces as we welcome international fans to Renton.”

Seattle will host six matches from mid-June through early July 2026, as announced by FIFA earlier today. Match dates are scheduled for June 15, June 19 (USA vs. anticipated opponent Australia), June 24, June 26, July 1, and July 6. Teams playing in these six matches will be revealed as the tournament progresses, but will include matches from Group B and G (for information on group nations, visit fifa.com).

Before team selections, the community gathered to celebrate the unveiling of one of Renton’s newest murals, capturing the excitement of the upcoming World Cup in Seattle. The mural was created by Shogo Ota, the artist behind Seattle’s official World Cup poster, linking Renton to the region’s global soccer celebration.

Shogo Ota is a Seattle-based artist and graphic designer known for his large-scale murals, poster art, and public installations. Ota blends his Japanese design roots with Pacific Northwest influences to create bold, engaging public art.

“I truly enjoyed installing this mural in Renton, surrounded by such an incredible community and with fantastic support from the team. I’m honored that this mural is now part of Renton’s history and connected to the excitement of the World Cup in the region,” said Shogo.

For more information visit the city’s newsroom on rentonwa.gov/news.

About the City of Renton

The City of Renton, Washington, with a population of 108,800 (2024), is located on the southeast shore of Lake Washington, just south of Seattle. Renton's strong economic base, diverse marketplace, and favorable business climate have attracted nationally recognized companies wishing to provide employees and their families with an outstanding quality of life. Renton is the home of Boeing, PACCAR, IKEA, Super Bowl Champion (2014) Seattle Seahawks, two-time (2016 & 2019) MLS champion and CONCACAF Champion (2022) Seattle Sounders FC (in 2024), and the eternal resting place of rock icon Jimi Hendrix. You can find more information on our website, news releases, Facebook, Twitter, and Nextdoor pages.

If you would like to receive updates and information on new stories, subscribe below.

The Brief

RENTON, Wash. - Sun and clear skies for much of Monday shined light on the problems left behind by recent flooding and storms. In Renton, people walking close to Lake Washington near the Renton Airport said there's a logjam to be cleaned up.

The area is a great spot for watching planes take off and land, but now there's a new attraction — a graveyard of logs and debris.

It's unlike anything people we talked with said they've seen before.

Usually it's planes at the Renton Airport that captures the attention of people like Perry and Cheryl Culwell during their morning walks by Lake Washington.

But not today.

What they're saying:

"Couldn't believe it. It was just incredible," Perry Culwell said.

This time, it was the major mess left behind by a raging Cedar River feeding into the lake following recent storms.

"A tremendous amount of water. I can't imagine how much water was coming down the Cedar River to produce that," Perry Culwell said.

A man also walking by the area showed us video of the Cedar River from December 11, where the water was high and gushing toward the lake.

"We came out here and couldn't believe the number of logs and stuff, and tree stumps, and all sorts of silt, just way out into the lake. We've never seen that before," Cheryl Culwell said.

Some branches and debris still float near the Renton Rowing Center.

Lisa Lambert also noticed the mud and driftwood near the facility while walking her dog, Cocoa.

"It is abnormal. This is very abnormal due to all the rain and everything we've had. Usually only see about half of this I would say," she said.

Rowing Center officials said members and about 50 volunteers from the community rallied to help clean up the area for the rowers during the weekend.

Debris piled up around the dock, so they got to work, with some in kayaks retrieving and towing logs from the water.

The Army Corps of Engineers told FOX 13 News they were aware of the significant debris in south Lake Washington.

Flooding aftermath in western WA

In a statement a spokesperson said:

"There is no federal navigation channel in the Cedar River, meaning any dredging is a local or private responsibility that requires a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

We are aware of significant debris in south Lake Washington, including reports of debris flows over 200 feet wide and thousands of feet long near the mouth of the Cedar River. For safety, we advise all boaters to avoid operating near this woody debris.

As post-flood operations shift to cleanup, the overwhelming volume of material requires us to prioritize critical navigation infrastructure like ferry terminals and commercial facilities. Our initial response for debris must be to first clear our full debris holding sites in Lake Union, Mercer Island, and Elliott Bay. This will create capacity for our local partners to help corral more debris.

Our efforts focus on removing the largest hazards, woody debris with a diameter over 12 inches. Please note that we do not remove debris from under private docks to avoid the risk of property damage."

A spokesperson also said they have received requests for debris removal, but they will be unable to address them until the rivers recede.

Local perspective:

Those we talked with said the clean-up looks like no small task.

"Looks to me like it's going to need to be dredged," Perry Culwell said.

Until then, people will have something new to look at, and as they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

"It is going to take a while. It's pretty, though, it looks nice," Lambert said.

People we talked with said they hope this is the last time intense rain causes this kind of mess in this area known for rowing and water activities.

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The Source: Information in this story comes from original reporting by FOX 13 Seattle reporter Dan Griffin.

RENTON, Wash. — The rush is on to protect homes in parts of Renton, where, on Thursday afternoon, the Cedar River surpassed record flood levels.

The Renton Regional Fire Authority reports the water levels from Renton to the Landsburg Road Southeast area are expected to stay high through Saturday.

RELATED: Major highways closed, evacuations, flash flood watch underway amid state emergency

The rushing water has spilled into backyards in the Maplewood neighborhood, and piles of sandbags are keeping it from getting much worse, for now.

Protecting these homes was a true community effort. A homeowner explained that a callout for help on social media led to a group of strangers stepping in to place sandbags along multiple properties.

These teams of helpers were working in ankle-deep water as they built rows of sandbags along the river's edge. Some of them told KOMO News they started working at 1 p.m. on Wednesday.

“We’ve been out here since yesterday, and you see we’re barely keeping up with it,” volunteer Steve Randolph explained. “Mother Nature is at its best right now, showing us who’s boss.”

ALSO SEE: Gov. Ferguson, officials discuss unpredictability of Washington's historic flooding event

“We’re running short on sandbags, for example, but we’re getting them from the city and the county,” volunteer and former flood engineer Norm Skjelbreia added. “It’s an incredible response by the local neighborhood.”

Homeowner Colleen Jacobson was seen sweeping toward a pump to keep the water from getting inside the house. She's lived here for a decade, said she's never seen the water get this high, and that it came over the embankment Thursday morning.

"That’s when the cavalry was called, and all these people have come to help," Jacobson explained. "It’s a little bit overwhelming, but I think we’re going to be OK."

Closer to downtown Renton, crowds watched floating debris barely pass under the bridges. The National Water Prediction Service estimates the water could rise to 18.16 feet by 4 p.m. Thursday, more than a foot over the previous flood record of 17.1 feet.

St. Matthew's Lutheran Church is offering a 24/7 shelter for anyone whose home is at risk for flooding, with help from the American Red Cross. They have the capacity to set up 50 cots, but as of Thursday afternoon, no one has needed the resource.

Late Thursday, Cedar River Water and Sewer District issued a 48-hour Precautionary Boil Water Advisory "for the east area of the Water District to include the area east of the Cedar River and south of Highway 18 while samples are collected to ensure safe drinking water."

People are advised to boil water at a rolling boil for at least one minute before use.

City departments are working hard to bring you festive fun in the weeks ahead. Here’s a quick look at events hosted by the City of Renton. Find all events on our Facebook and Nextdoor calendar and on the city’s website at rentonwa.gov/events.

Holiday Artist Studio Tour

Saturday, November 29 - Wednesday, December 31 Various times Various locations

In celebration of Artist Sunday, explore 24 local artist studios throughout the month, meet talented makers, and discover one-of-a-kind handcrafted gifts for the holidays.

Collect puzzle pieces at each studio and earn puzzle kit, follow the posted studio hours and maps, and complete the full tour for a chance to win original artwork.

Tree Lighting on Small Business Saturday

Saturday, November 29 5 – 6:30 p.m. Tree Lighting at Renton History Museum (235 Mill Ave. S.)

Download the Visit Renton app to explore local shops, build your own itinerary, and earn rewards as you shop small.

Then stop by the Renton History Museum for the tree lighting, free treats, carolers, and a free ornament kit for the first 75 kids.

Clam Lights Opening Night

Friday, December 5 6:15 – 8:30 p.m. Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park (1201 Lake Washington Blvd.)

Stroll the sparkling waterfront at Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park and enjoy Renton’s iconic Clam Lights! During opening night, enjoy lights, music, Santa, and a tree lighting!

Can't make opening night? The holiday lights will continue nightly from December 6 to January 4 from 5 to 9 p.m.

Battle of the Badges: Holiday Lights

Saturday, December 6 5:30 – 8 p.m. Renton Technical College (3000 NE 4th St.)

Celebrate one of Renton’s brightest traditions as regional public safety agencies transform their vehicles into dazzling holiday light displays, with music, food trucks, voting, and plenty of festive cheer.

This free community event also supports a local food bank, so bring a donation and come enjoy the lights!

Renton City Concert Band’s Holiday Concert

Sunday, December 14 2 – 3:30 p.m. Renton Ikea Performing Arts Center (400 S. 2nd St.)

Enjoy a live performance of holiday music at the Renton Ikea Performing Arts Center.

Guarantee your spot by pre-purchasing your ticket at the Don Persson Renton Senior Activity Center or Renton Community Center!

Remaining tickets will be available at the door on performance day.

Polar Bear Double Dip!

Thursday, January 1, 2026 10 – 10:30 p.m. Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park (1201 Lake Washington Blvd. N.)

12 – 12:30 p.m. Henry Moses Aquatic Center (1719 Maple Valley Hwy)

Take the plunge in our New Year's Polar Bear Double Dip! Brave the chilly waters at Lake Washington or the Henry Moses Aquatic Center or attend both if you dare!

Bring a towel, warm clothes, and take a dip into the new year!