This summer, Trailhead Direct just might be the easiest way to reach your favorite trails
Crossposted from Public Health Insider
This summer is shaping up to be one of the busiest King County has seen in years. With major freeway construction underway and World Cup visitors expected to bring heavier traffic across the region, getting to your favorite trailheads may take longer than usual. For people looking to enjoy the outdoors without the stress of congestion, parking, or long delays, Trailhead Direct offers a simple, car free way to reach some of our most popular hikes. Read more.
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Balanced You Mindfulness: 2026 summer schedule
Mindfulness is the practice of being present and fully engaged with whatever we’re doing at the moment—free from distraction or judgment. It’s a proven method to reduce stress, improve focus, and enhance overall well-being.
Balanced You partners with mindfulness providers CuriosityBased, SolJoy, and Mindfulness Northwest. You can see the class list from each provider below.
These classes are open to all employees. Each class is a one-time event. Below is a list of upcoming classes, along with their registration links. Read more.
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King County Metro teams up to strengthen community, cultural connections during Seattle’s soccer summer
Crossposted from Metro Matters
Smiles so big they fill the room. Connections so strong they last generations.
As the region welcomes the world to Seattle’s soccer summer, community groups are teaming up with King County Metro to promote positive change and relationships that will last beyond the tournament events.
This effort is called our Inclusivity Initiative, and through this work Metro aims to demonstrate that excellence in transit operations and deep commitment to community fairness are inseparable elements of true public service.
Metro has convened conversations with community organizations and created a microgrant program to support and promote transit, watch parties, community celebrations, and cultural events. These discussion spaces prioritize cultural healing, sharing experiences, and celebrating togetherness.
“This is how we are broadening the benefit, and building new and creative ways to define the common good in 2026,” said De’Sean Quinn, Metro’s Director of Partnerships.
Metro is teaming up with 12 organizations, including 11 that received microgrants, to plan to host events such as community watch parties, cultural discussions, local soccer tournaments, clinics, and Juneteenth celebrations. Read more.
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Persistent as water: Celebrating the women engineers of King County Wastewater Treatment Division
Crossposted from Clean Water Stories
International Women in Engineering Day, observed every June 23, traces its roots to 1919, when a group of women who had stepped into engineering roles during the First World War refused to step back out when it ended. They formed the Women’s Engineering Society to fight for their place in the profession and to hold the door open for others. It took nearly a century for the world to formally mark what they started: the day was founded in 2014, received UNESCO patronage in 2017, and has grown into a global celebration ever since. The tenacity of those founding women is not a historical footnote. It is a living thread. More than a hundred years later, women still hold just 15.4 percent of engineering occupations in the United States. (Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024; Society of Women Engineers, swe.org/research/2026/us-employment.)
King County Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) is filled with women engineers, at every level, across every discipline, doing extraordinary work every day. The seven women featured here are a handful of them. They agreed to share their stories: of how they got here, what they have built, and what they want the next generation to know. These are not tidy success narratives. They are real ones, full of detours, persistence, encouragement from unexpected places, and the deep satisfaction of work that matters. Read more.
Pictured: Top row, left to right: Lauren Burch, Wastewater Engineer, Crystal Fleet, Project Resources Unit Manager, Mary Beth Gilbrough, Unit Manager of the Project Engineering and Technical Resources Unit, and Liz Matson, Offsite PMOA Lead. Bottom row, left to right: Samayyah Williams, PE, PMP, Process Control Supervisor at Brightwater Treatment Plant, Rebecca Gauff, PE, PMP, Project Manager and Mechanical Engineer, and Karla Guevarra, Wastewater Process Engineer III.
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Take care working outdoors during hot weather
Warm weather is here, and employees and supervisors are reminded to take care of themselves and one another as temperatures rise.
Some of our work needs to be performed outdoors, and in extreme heat, Executive Branch departments should evaluate planned field work to determine if this work can be postponed to when temperatures are cooler, where possible. If work must be performed, departments should attempt to adapt schedules wherever possible so work can be performed in the morning. Please see the following advice and tips to help stay safe in the heat.
Note that this applies to Executive Branch employees, and employees in other branches of County government may receive additional guidance from their leaders.
For complete Department of Labor and Industries requirements, please refer to: F417-300-000 Permanent Changes to Outdoor Heat Exposure Rules. For more resources, visit: Be Heat Smart. Read more.
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Executive Zahilay recognizes Juneteenth, a day that carries both celebration and weight
On Friday, June 19, King County Executive Girmay Zahilay emailed all County employees in recognition of Juneteenth, its history and legacy.
“For me, Juneteenth is a reminder that the pursuit of freedom, opportunity, and justice for African Americans did not end in 1865,” Executive Zahilay wrote in his email. “Today, we honor the generations of African Americans who continued that pursuit long after June 19, 1865. People who organized, advocated, worshipped, taught, created, mentored, served, and led in their communities in the face of relentless resistance.”
Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when the last enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas, were informed of their freedom — more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. Read the Executive’s full message.
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Seattle Seahawks discounts for fall games available
The Seattle Seahawks are excited to offer King County employees, family, and friends the opportunity to purchase tickets at a discounted rate for a few upcoming fall games. Purchase tickets here.
- Sunday, Oct. 4 at 1:25 p.m. Seattle Seahawks vs Los Angeles Chargers, priced $153
- Sunday, Nov. 8 at 1:25 p.m. Seattle Seahawks vs Arizona Cardinals, priced $133
- Sunday, Dec. 13 at 1:25 p.m. Seattle Seahawks vs New York Giants, priced $133
See all available discounts on the Employee Discount intranet page.
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Take the KCIA Community Outreach Survey
At King County International Airport-Boeing Field (KCIA), we are always looking for ways to improve our outreach and better connect with the communities we serve. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us understand what is working well and where we can improve.
We invite you to take a few minutes to complete our Community Outreach Survey. Your responses will help guide our efforts to improve communication, engagement opportunities, and access to resources and programs at KCIA. This survey is voluntary and anonymous.
You can complete the survey here. Please share your input by July 17.
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. We appreciate your partnership in helping us build a stronger and more connected community.
If you have any questions regarding the survey, you can contact our Communications Fellow Nada Ramadan at NRamadan@kingcounty.gov.
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King County Employee Transportation Program E-bike subsidy pilot
The King County Employee Transportation Program (ETP) is now accepting applications for the e-bike subsidy with options to lease a class 1 or 2 e-bike for up to one year. This subsidy can be used for up to $100 per month for up to one year e-bike lease subscription from any of the ETP preapproved vendors (Ridepanda, Rybit, Wombi). Spaces are limited, but if selected, you will receive a follow up email with concierge support to help identify which bike and vendor may work best for you. Options to purchase during or at the end of your lease will also be offered.
Please visit ETP’s News and Promotions site for more details and to apply.
The ETP E-Bike Subsidy Program is supported with funding from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act. The CCA supports Washington’s climate action efforts by putting cap-and-invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs, and improving public health. Information about the CCA is available at climate.wa.gov.
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Summer safety tips for pets
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC
Summer-like temperatures have arrived in the Puget Sound region. Be sure to keep yourself and your pets safe from the heat with these tips.
Animals cannot sweat like humans, and they are vulnerable to overheating quickly, especially when the temperature rises above 80 degrees. Be sure your pets are ready for the summer heat with these safety tips:
- Be sure to provide plenty of fresh, cool water to pets, and shade from the sun.
- Though pets still need exercise during warm weather, take extra care when exercising older dogs, short-nosed dogs, and dogs with thick coats, as they are especially vulnerable to overheating.
- On very hot days, limit walks to early morning or evening hours. Remember that asphalt gets very hot and can burn your pet’s paws.
- NEVER leave your pet in a car on a hot day. In sunny weather, the temperature inside a car can quickly rise to 120 degrees or more, even with windows left slightly open. Animals left in a hot car, even for just a few minutes, can suffer from heat stroke, brain damage, or death.
- If you see a pet in distress from the heat, call 9-1-1 or if you live in the RASKC service area call 206-296-7387 (PETS).
For more information, visit our Pet Tips and Resources webpage.
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