By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
The Kent Black Action Commission (KBAC), with the support of State Rep. Mia Gregerson, is looking to rename a nearly 10-mile stretch of Benson Highway in honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.The initiative, introduced at a recent community event, calls for extending the symbolic reach of Martin Luther King Jr. Way through parts of Renton, Kent, and unincorporated areas of King County.
Gwen Allen-Carston, executive director of KBAC, describes the effort as a meaningful tribute to the civil rights icon whose legacy is already embedded in the county’s name.
“This is something that we believe is necessary, because we live here in Martin Luther King County,” said Allen-Carston. “And we want to make sure that all of King County is represented, when we can, by a street or a boulevard or a road named after Martin Luther King.”
According to Allen-Carston, the proposed renaming would not affect business or residential addresses. Instead, it would involve placing memorial signage along the existing road. The Washington State Department of Transportation has agreed to assist in marking the route without requiring changes to official street names.
The plan would connect the current end of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Seattle at State Route 900 and continue south through parts of Renton and into Kent, terminating near South 515. The signage would begin at North Petrovitsky and South Benson and follow the corridor through Skyway and surrounding communities.
“It’s going to be roughly about 9.93 miles,” said Allen-Carston. “The Department of Transportation is going to work with us so that we can create the connection to Martin Luther King Boulevard from Seattle, where it ended, and start the process through and up in parts of Skyway and Renton.”
A petition is now live on KBAC’s website at www.kentblackactioncommission.org, where community members can learn more and submit their support or opposition to the initiative.
“Whether folks support it or not, we are in the final stages,” said Allen-Carston. “We’ve been working on this for almost two years now.”
KBAC encourages residents to explore the proposal, talk with neighbors and family members, and consider the lasting impact of honoring Dr. King in a more visible way across South King County.
“We are hoping that we can get this as a petition out to the community so that you can have a voice in this plan,” said Allen-Carston.
With continued community support, KBAC hopes the renamed route could be in place by next year.
