KC Parks News

KC Parks Received TRIM Grant

The Forestry Division of Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation received a Tree Resource Improvement and Maintenance (TRIM) grant from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC). TRIM grants assist Missouri communities with the management, improvement and/or conservation of their trees and forests, as well as professional training and education.

Kansas City was awarded a $3,763 grant for two Foresters to attend the Society of Municipal Arborist’s, Municipal Forestry Institute.  This week long institute is an exciting, high-level training opportunity educating professionals in the leadership and managerial aspects of urban forestry. This week-long intensive educational program delivers a challenging opportunity to grow a more successful community tree program. Attendees learn and master leadership and management tools of program administration, coalition building, strategic thinking, program planning, and public relations by investing a week in professional growth and development.

The Institute curriculum was developed by a team of urban forestry professionals and educators with dozens of years’ experience in leading urban forestry programs at the local, state, federal, and non-profit levels.

Congratulations to City Forester Kevin Lapointe and Forester, Patrick Anyanike for their successful completion of this training institute.

TRIM is a competitive cost-share grant from MDC in cooperation with the Missouri Community Forest Council and U.S. Forest Service that provides up to $10,000 for community tree inventories, removal or pruning of trees, tree planting and educational programs.

City Celebrates Arbor Day with Tree Planting Saturday

The City of Kansas City, Mo., Parks and Recreation Department and Gardeners Connect invite residents to lend a green thumb and join its Arbor Day tree planting on Saturday, April 12 at 1:30 p.m. at Loose Park. Arbor Day is a nationally-celebrated observance that promotes tree planting and tree care.

Kansas City, Mo., also is a proud recipient of many recent tree-related awards and recognitions.

For example, this month Kansas City was named a Tree City USA for the 26th consecutive year by the Arbor Day Foundation and the Missouri Department of Conservation. To be named a Tree City, municipalities must have a viable tree-management plan and program and meet several criteria set by the foundation. The Arbor Day Foundation also awarded Kansas City with its annual Growth Award, which recognizes higher levels of tree care by Tree City USA communities. They pointed to the City’s recent emerald ash borer abatement success as reason for this award.

In the last three years, the City has received multiple Tree Resource Improvement and Maintenance (TRIM) grants from the Missouri Department of Conservation. These grants funded the removal and replacement of 120 ash trees affected by emerald ash borer along Benton Avenue and The Paseo.

Finally, as the City reported last week, the Missouri Department of Conservation and Missouri Community Forestry Council presented Parks and Recreation’s Forestry Division with the Missouri Arbor Award of Excellence, citing the division’s innovative program designed to mitigate emerald ash borer damage.

This prestigious, annual award recognizes projects that demonstrate a sustained overall effort to care for trees and people who act as good stewards for trees in communities. Kansas City was the only municipality in Missouri to receive this honor.

For more information about Parks and Recreation, please visit www.kcparks.org. Learn more about the City’s Emerald Ash Borer Management Program.

Rock the Parkway Affects Ward Parkway Area Traffic

The City of Kansas City, Mo., is notifying motorists that the Burns & McDonnell Rock the Parkway half-marathon/5K run will impact traffic significantly in the Ward Parkway area starting around 7 a.m. on Saturday, April 12.

The route for the run starts at the Burns & McDonnell headquarters at 9400 Ward Parkway and travels north along Ward Parkway to circle Loose Park via West 57th Terrace, Belleview Avenue, West 61st Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, West 55th Street, Wornall Road, West 51st Street, West 52nd Street, Summit Street and West 56th Street. Runners will then go south on Ward Parkway to return to the Burns & McDonnell headquarters.

About 8,500 runners are expected, and police will be on hand throughout the route to monitor traffic. Drivers will be allowed to drive across the race route when runners are not crossing. During times when runners are in the area, motorists will be required to wait. Residents and businesses directly affected by the race have been notified.

Please heed any detour signs and observe caution during this event, which is one of the largest half-marathons in the Midwest.

As a service to our residents, the City of Kansas City, Mo., sends occasional notices about temporary road closures due to outdoor races and parades to help residents better plan their weekends and avoid inconvenient road closures or delays.

For more information, visit www.rocktheparkway.com.

Show-Me State Games 2014 Torch Run Coming to KC

The Show-Me State Games along with Shelter Insurance® is excited to announce the dates and cities for the 2014 Torch Run.

The mission of the Shelter Insurance® Show-Me State Games Torch Run is to generate exposure and enthusiasm for the Show-Me State Games throughout Missouri.  The Show-Me State Games is an Olympic-style sports festival offering more than 40 events for all ages and ability levels.  The 30^th anniversary GAMES will take place on June 20-22, July 18-20 and July 25-27.

The Torch Run will take place in eight cities throughout Missouri this spring and summer including:

• Springfield:  April 8 at Missouri State University and Hammons Field
• Joplin:   April 9 at Spiva Park and Cunningham Park
• Kansas City:  April 22 at Mill Creek Park and Kansas City Plaza
• Hannibal: April 25 at Central Park
• St. Louis:  April 29 at Busch Stadium
• St. Charles:  April 30 in Downtown St. Charles
• Jefferson City:  July 18 at Missouri State Capitol
• Columbia:  July 18 at Shelter Insurance®

The Torch Run will culminate with the Opening Ceremonies festivities at the Hearnes Center on Friday, July 18 at 7 p.m.

“The Torch Run is a great way to show Missourians the benefits of participating in the Show-Me State Games.  We enjoyed helping share that message and look forward to expanding the event this year,” said Frank Thompson, Vice President of Marketing for Shelter Insurance® and Show-Me State Games Steering Committee Chair.

“We are excited to expand our Torch Run as part of our 30^th anniversary celebration, and we appreciate the support of Shelter Insurance® to help us get the word out about the GAMES throughout the state of Missouri” said Ken Ash, Executive Director of the Show-Me State Games.

Individuals interested in running the torch can email Emily Lorenz at peurrunge@Missouri.edu for more details.

The Show-Me State Games was established in 1985 as a non-profit program of the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness & Health.  Now the largest state games in the nation, the Show-Me State Games is hosted by the University of Missouri. In addition to the summer games, the Show-Me State Games offers events throughout the year to promote health, fitness, family and fun. The Show-Me State Games generates $15 million in economic impact annually in Columbia. For a complete schedule of events and more details about the Show-Me State Games, visit www.smsg.org or call 573-882-2101.

Fountain Day is Today!

Please join the Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners for the official start of fountain season! Fountain Day 2014 takes place on Tuesday, April 8, 11 a.m. at the Eagle Scout Memorial Fountain, 39th & Gillham Road.

The second Tuesday in April marks the day when Kansas City, Missouri’s 48 public fountains spring back to life!  Join us in celebration at this newly renovated landmark fountain featuring a new pump and electrical transformer, upgraded lighting, cleaning and site work.  Read more about the Eagle Scout Memorial Fountain.  Watch a  video from 2013 Fountain Day.

City Receives Missouri Arbor Award of Excellence for Proactive Emerald Ash Borer Management

The Missouri Department of Conservation and Missouri Community Forestry Council have presented the City of Kansas City, Mo.’s Forestry Division with its Missouri Arbor Award of Excellence, citing the City’s innovative program designed to mitigate emerald ash borer damage.

This prestigious, annual award recognizes projects that demonstrate a sustained overall effort to care for trees and people who act as good stewards for trees in communities. Kansas City was the only municipality in Missouri to receive this honor.

“We received the award for our proactive work managing and abating the emerald ash borer pest in Kansas City,” said City Forester Kevin LaPointe. “This achievement was made possible thanks to the support of the city manager and City Council.”

The emerald ash borer was first detected in Kansas City in July 2012. The insect, which has infested trees throughout the nation, is not a threat to human or animal health but poses a risk to the region’s 6 million ash trees.

The Forestry Division created an Emerald Ash Borer Management Program in 2012 to proactively treat and dispose of trees suspected to be infected with emerald ash borer. A replacement tree is planted for each tree removed. The program preserves a number of Ash trees by treating them every three years against emerald ash borer infestation. Staff also creates “trap trees” by stressing specific Ash trees that are not good candidates for treatment, and replacing each Ash tree removed with a variety of other tree species. The main purpose of trap trees is to monitor the spread of emerald ash borer and the population density. As the population builds in an area, thousands of Ash trees begin dying at the same time.

More information about the City’s Emerald Ash Borer Management Program.