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Concerts in the Park Start July 17

Get ready for an unforgettable summer as the Concerts in the Park series kicks off on Wednesday, July 17 at Lake Boren Park! Enjoy a lineup of talented musicians, great food, and community fun every Wednesday from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

This year's series opens with Boogie Boulevard, a 10-piece "bonanza of total disco madness" performing dance and R&B hits from the 70s to today.

Food vendors open at 6:00 p.m. Enjoy delicious treats from Puddin' Cakz & Po' Boyz, Tacos El Tajin, and Tastyz.

Event parking is on the pipeline trail behind the park. The main Lake Boren Park lot is reserved for ADA parking and drop-off only.

Bring your family, friends, and dancing shoes! For more information, contact Amy George, Events & Recreation Coordinator, at events@newcastlewa.gov.

• July 16: City Council special and regular meetings at City Hall
• July 17: Concerts in the Park - Boogie Boulevard
• July 19: Chamber Luncheon with City Manager Pingel and NPD Chief Kajihiro at Tapatio Mexican Grill
• July 20: 4th Annual Newcastle Art Fair at Avalon Newcastle Commons
• July 20: Superhero Machine Puppet Show at Newcastle Library
• July 20: Newcastle Arts Council Film Series at Aegis Gardens
• July 24: Planning Commission meeting at City Hall
• July 24: Concerts in the Park - Between 2 Gregs
• July 27: Tech Help for Seniors with TeensWhoCare at Newcastle Library
• July 28: Sundaes with a Cop at Frosty Barrel
• July 31: Concerts in the Park - Stage One
• August 6: City Council meeting - cancelled
• August 6: National Night Out
• August 7: Concerts in the Park - The Pioneer Squares
• August 14: Community Activities Commission meeting at City Hall

Special and Regular

City Council Meetings: July 16

Please join City Council for their regular meeting on Tuesday, July 16 at 7:00 p.m., in person at Newcastle City Hall or online via our YouTube live stream. Prior to the meeting, at 6:00 p.m., Council will hold a special meeting to discuss the Six-Year General Fund Forecast.

Find the agenda and meeting materials on our website, along with information on how to participate in the meeting. The regular meeting agenda includes a discussion of the Six-Year Surface Water Management Capital Improvement Plan.

City Council welcomes verbal public comment at regular council meetings, in person and remotely. Public comment periods are noted in the agenda. If you plan to provide comment remotely, email cityclerk@newcastlewa.gov by 5:00 p.m. on the Monday before the meeting to obtain the necessary Zoom login credentials.

Thank You: Fireworks on the Lake

Last Saturday, the Fireworks on the Lake event provided a fabulous way to celebrate Independence Day and kick off a summer of community events. The celebration began with an array of tasty treats from our food vendors. Following an official city welcome from our mayor, Soul Siren rocked that stage for nearly two hours. The grand finale was an exciting fireworks show that illuminated the sky over Lake Boren.

Thank you to Alpha Pyrotechnics, AT Productions, and Soul Siren as well as our local Scouts for hosting the "Push the Plunger" raffle. We also appreciate our Community Activities Commissioners for staffing the city booth and assisting in planning the event. Thanks to all of our Summer Sponsors for their support.

Finally, a huge shoutout of appreciation to our Public Works Crew for all their hard work and enthusiasm in making this special event happen for our community, from planning and setup to cleanup.

Speed Limit Reduction: 116th Ave SE

Starting this week, crews began changing the speed limit signs from 30 MPH to 25 MPH on 116th Ave SE. As authorized by Ordinance 2024-600, adopted by City Council on April 2, 2024, the speed limit on this corridor is reduced to improve traffic safety. To ensure drivers are aware of the new speed limit, additional signs will be installed: 6 more signs added in the SB direction and 5 more signs in the NB direction.

I-405 Closure and Detour Notice:

This Weekend!

As part of the I-405 Renton to Bellevue Widening and Express Toll Lanes Project, WSDOT has planned a weekend closure of I-405 from Exit 5 (SR-900) to Exit 10 (Coal Creek Pkwy) from Friday, July 12 at 11:00 p.m. through Monday, July 15 at 4:00 a.m.

Similar to last summer, I-405 traffic will be detoured onto Coal Creek Pkwy and SR-900/Sunset Blvd as shown on the map above. Plan ahead for anticipated local impacts.

30th Anniversary:

Honoring Community Contributors

As part of our 30th Anniversary, the City of Newcastle Community Activities Commission is honoring some of the remarkable individuals whose contributions have been instrumental in Newcastle's evolution since 1994. They've made an enduring impact, helping our city flourish into the vibrant community it is today.

This week, the Commission highlights community contributors Garry Kampen of Newcastle Trails and Seth Miller of Newcastle Elementary School. Please join us in thanking these individuals for their contributions to our city.

Storm Water Low Down

Brought to you by the Public Works Surface Water Management (SWM) Department

Register for National Night Out

National Night Out 2024 is on Tuesday, August 6! This community building event promotes partnerships between neighbors, the community, and the police. If your neighborhood is hosting a block party or BBQ and would like for a Newcastle Police Department officer to visit, email Ella Vermeire at n-evermeire@kingcounty.gov with the main contact, address, and time for your event.

News from Newcastle Trails

Newcastle Trails is busy with trail work and two major projects. Peggy Price and local Scouts have been working on the East CrossTown Trail and connecting the May Creek and Horse trails.

Our Greenway Bridge-Trail project aims to create a Renton-Newcastle trail system in an expanded May Creek Park. We're working with the Kennydale Neighborhood Association to secure grants for trails building at no cost to Newcastle.

The Lake Boren Promenade on the map above is another focus. Newcastle Trails will ask the city to prioritize the project, which includes an ADA-accessible trail along the eastern lakeshore, shade trees, and a water pavilion for moon-viewing or lake-gazing. For more details on how to get involved, check out our information guide.

Be sure to visit Newcastle Trails at our booth at Newcastle Days. We'll have handouts and information, and lead a trail walk on the new boardwalk and rebuilt Olympus Trail.