UG to Celebrate over $2.1 Million in Park Improvements

UG to Celebrate over $2.1 Million in Park Improvements

Published on August 19, 2024

Kansas City, KS - Next Friday, August 23, the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas (UG) Parks & Recreation Department will host a ribbon-cutting tour at three of its parks.

This event will celebrate the investment of more than $2.1 million in improvements funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. The UG will also kick off a new awareness campaign about our shared responsibility to take care of public investments and amenities called "Enjoy, don't destroy."

"It's amazing to see these much-needed investments and upgrades in our parks," said Angel Ferrara,Director of Parks and Recreation. "These parks are all East of I-635, in the historically redlined neighborhoods of our urban core, and these investments are long overdue. I'm appreciative of the CDBG grants to improve not just the parks but the services that contribute to our community's quality of life."

The public is invited to join Unified Government staff, local elected officials and media at any of the stops, including:

• 11:15AM at Clifton Park (2200 Wilson Blvd., KCK, KS) - to celebrate a new spray park with a total cost of $501,962.
  
  
• 11:50AM at Kensington Park (2900 State Avenue, KCK, KS) to celebrate the transformation of this park with two projects, including a new post-tensioned basketball court, a new fence, and connecting sidewalk and benches totaling $251,951. Additionally, the UG has constructed a new ADA-compliant parking lot with new asphalt, a concrete curb, and a gutter system totaling $163,112.
  
  
• 12:15PM at Klamm Park (2511 N. 27^th St., KCK, KS) to cut the ribbon on two new post-tensioned basketball courts, fencing, connecting sidewalks, and bench seating. Other enhancements include eight new pickleball courts and three new tennis courts, an LED LSI lighting system, and updated equipment for both tennis and pickleball courts. All these enhancements totaled $1,196,203.

Media interested in riding the bus are asked to RSVP directly to Public Information Officer Krystal McFeders by 5PM Wednesday, August 21 as space is limited.

Spread the Word: Enjoy, Don't Destroy

In addition to the unveiling of the various park enhancements, the UG will officially launch the new "Enjoy, Don't Destroy" campaign. Over the past year, the UG has seen an increase in park vandalism throughout the entire Wyandotte County and KCK area. The campaign strives to raise awareness about the impact of vandalism in community parks and promote community involvement in reporting suspicious activities. "These parks are important places to our community," said Director Ferrara. "It's heartbreaking to see vandalism ruin these amenities for others and we hope to encourage a renewed sense of local pride and ownership of our park resources across the county."

Take Action: Report Vandalism or Suspicious Activities in KCK Parks

Individuals are asked to contact UG Parks and Recreation at 913-573-8327 or call Community Policing at 913-596-3000 if they notice any suspicious activity or discover any vandalism of any kind.

Learn more about these enhancements, the Enjoy, Don't Destroy campaign and the UG Parks and Recreation Department: Parks & Recreation - Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City (wycokck.org)

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