The White Center community gathered on May 21 for a "Glow Up" celebration, marking the completion of several major infrastructure projects designed to make the neighborhood safer and more vibrant. The event, held during the monthly Rat City Art Walk at the corner of 16th Avenue SW and SW 98th Street, served as the official debut for decorative lighting and significant road safety upgrades.

The highlight of the evening was the activation of the “Illuminate White Center” project. These decorative, one-watt cafe-style lights now stretch across the sidewalks of 16th Avenue SW from SW Roxbury Street to SW 100th Street. The lights, which turn on at 8:00 p.m. and off at 4:00 a.m., were a community-driven idea funded through King County’s Participatory Budgeting program at an estimated cost of $100,000.

King County Director of Local Services Leon Richardson emphasized the community's role in these changes, stating, “These improvements reflect what people have said loud and clear. They want a neighborhood that’s safe, more vibrant, and more connected”. Richardson also noted the creativity required to overcome hurdles with the regional power grid, leading the county to hang the lights over the sidewalks rather than across the streets. Currently, four local businesses—The Boom Box, Rat City Tattoo, Lariat Bar, and Puffy Pandy—are powering the lights.

Donna Chan, owner of the dessert cafe Puffy Pandy and organizer for the art walk, shared her excitement for the neighborhood's transformation. “One of the main reasons why we built this art walk was to show the community that White Center is walkable and that it feels safe to actually walk,” Chan said. “With the new glow ups, with the new lights and with the new sidewalk... we want to keep promoting that”.

The "Glow Up" also highlighted a multi-year pedestrian safety and traffic calming project on 16th Avenue SW between SW 100th and SW 107th Streets. The project reduced the road from four lanes to two, adding a center turn lane and bicycle lanes in both directions.

King County Road Services Director Tricia Davis led a walking tour of the improvements, recalling her own "scary" experience biking the corridor before the changes. “The great thing about these projects is it makes it safer for everybody,” Davis remarked. “It makes it safer for people who walk, who roll, who ride, who drive, and... the slower traffic and safer roads make it better for business”. Despite the addition of bike lanes and curb extensions, the project actually increased available parking from 43 to 46 spaces.

Adding to the neighborhood's visual appeal is the new rainbow-painted sidewalk at the curb cut-outs between SW Roxbury and SW 98th Streets. Coordinated with White Center Pride, the vibrant art was painted by King County road crews just days before the event. The project has been an immediate success, garnering 1,600 likes on social media within four hours of being posted, with residents already using the colorful markers as directional finders in the district.

King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda praised the collective effort, calling the improvements a testament to the community’s resilience. “When we put these lights up, it makes sure that everyone knows that they're welcome here, they're safe here,” Mosqueda said. “This is a creative environment, and we are investing in this community”.

The festivities are expected to continue throughout the summer, with local officials also announcing an upcoming FIFA World Cup watch party on June 26, hosted in partnership with White Center Pride