After long deliberations and many, many suggestions, Kingston finally has a slogan: Kingston on the Cove.

Various volunteer groups around town have been discussing the topic for almost a year because the old slogans didn’t seem to fit anymore. “Little City by the Sea” was still preferred by some, but the argument was that Kingston is neither a city or by the sea. “Gateway to the Olympics” makes a passageway to somewhere else while most of the businesses would like to be seen as a destination and a nice place to stop and visit.

The Kingston Stakeholders came up with a possibility or two and the Kingston Revitalization Association came up with several, and these suggestions were published in the Kingston Community News for the community to vote on their favorite. A few people voted, but most had more suggestions – sometimes pages of ideas!

So instead of deciding between four possibilities, there were hundreds. KRA went through all the suggestion and comments to tally the most popular. Many people didn’t want anything that said “safe” because they felt it sent the opposite message and others objected to anything that reminded them of a nursing home. Another top contender was “Kingston, Close Enough to Get Away.” Then KRA were reminded the Kitsap County slogan is “Just Far Enough to Get Away.” So this choice was too similar and it was pointed out, could apply to just about any town in Kitsap County, not just Kingston.

So back to the drawing board, KRA members narrowed it down to eight possibilities and sent them off to the Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce. At a special meeting of volunteers, who put themselves in contact with the public every day, a final decision was made: Kingston on the Cove. It’s short, simple and pays homage to the heritage of Appletree Cove.