While its regular festivals, parties and special events have been shut down for a year because of the pandemic, Main Street Kent, representing the downtown businesses in Kent, has created a series of outdoor walking events, such as its story tours, to give people something to do and engage them with local businesses.
Heading into the spring, it’s developing a series of web-based public art walking tours to showcase some of the murals and sculptures installed around town, hoping to create two or three different tours by spring.
“With people looking for more things to do outdoors these days, we thought this would be a great way to encourage activity downtown, offering safe and interesting excursions to do with family, a friend, or even solo,” says MSK executive director Heather Malarcik.
The first walking tour, which you can access here, was put together by KSU associate professor of geography Josie Myers. It starts at the Haymaker Farms Market mural on Franklin Avenue and wends its way through downtown where you’re encouraged to stop for coffee or a drink, a bite to eat and maybe a little shopping. Y
Future walking tours will include one about “Early Industrial Kent,” featuring sites like the Silk Mill, Stone Arch Bridge and Kent Block. Go here to access the tours and download the maps.