KC Parks News

Board Approves Policy to Discourage Smoking in KC Parks

BY LYNN HORSLEY, The Kansas City Star

The Kansas City parks board on Tuesday endorsed a policy to create smoke-free zones around all its playgrounds, sports fields, pools and other outdoor amenities.

The policy does not prohibit smoking but strongly encourages adults not to smoke, especially in venues where children are present.

“It does not ban smoking,” Parks Superintendent Forest Decker told the board of parks and recreation commissioners. “It just models good behavior.”

Decker said a pilot project in 13 parks worked well last year. A city Health Department grant paid for signs to discourage smoking around playgrounds and other public amenities in those parks. Parks staff did informal surveys that got positive public feedback and found a significant reduction in cigarette debris in those parks.

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Join Us For Fountain Day

April 9th marks the day when Kansas City, Missouri’s 48 public fountains spring back to life! Please join the Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners for the official start of fountain season 2013.

Fountain Day 2013 will be held on Tuesday, April 9 at 11 a.m. near the Children’s Fountain at North Oak Street & N.E. 32nd Street in Waterworks Park.

Playful, happy, challenging, thoughtful–all are terms that can be used to describe Kansas City’s Children’s Fountain.  The fountain was designed to celebrate children and Kansas City children were used as models for the figures.

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MEDIA ALERT: Groundbreaking for Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard Improvements

WHAT: Media availability and photo/video opportunity during a groundbreaking ceremony celebrating the commencement of improvements to the Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard streetscape between Rockhill Road and The Paseo.

WHO: Anticipated attendees and presenters include:

• Jean Paul Chaurand, President, Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners
• Mark L. McHenry, Director, City of Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation
• Emanuel Cleaver II ,U.S. Congressman, Fifth District-Missouri
• Jermaine Reed, City Councilman, Third District
• Ollie Gates, former Parks Board Commissioner

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Parks Spotlight: Children’s Fountain

Celebrate Kansas City

A holiday unique to Kansas City, Fountain Day, will be celebrated on Tuesday, April 9 at 11 a.m.  On this day, all 48 Kansas City fountains will turn on for the season.  This year’s Fountain Day festivities will take place at the Children’s Fountain, located at the intersection of North Oak Trafficway, Northeast 32nd Street and Burlington Street/Missouri Highway 9 north of the Missouri River in part of Waterworks Park. The celebration is free and open to the public.

History

Fun at the Flower, Lawn & Garden Show

The Greater Kansas City Home Show and Flower, Lawn & Garden Show takes place March 22-24, at Bartle Hall. This annual showcase, co-presented by KC Parks and the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City, continues its tradition of attracting consumers who are seeking new ideas, products and services to improve their indoor and outdoor living environments.

Attendees will find beautiful garden displays, educational opportunities and an expansive array of building, remodeling and landscaping experts all under one roof. The show is filled with the educational and entertainment options many of which are presented on the KC Parks Stage located by the Garden Displays:

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Music of the Great War Explored in New Special Exhibit

“Harmonies of the Homefront” on exhibit through October 27, 2013

For Americans at home during the Great War, singing was a means of actively expressing patriotism in private and public settings. The National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial explores music of the World War I era in a new exhibition called “Harmonies of the Homefront.”

The exhibition, located in Memory Hall, runs through October 27 and is included with admission to the Museum and free for members.

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