January 2021 TownTalk

SPECIAL

YEAR IN REVIEW

EDITION

LOOKING BACK AT

2020 A YEAR LENEXA

adapted to unprecedented circumstances overcame challenges provided exceptional service in new ways

SPECIAL YEAR IN REVIEW EDITION

In this issue JANUARY 2021 • ISSUE ONE

3 Get the new year off to a good start 6 A message from Mayor Mike Boehm On the cover: When it’s not staring into the sunset, The Serpent is a popular attraction for kids. You’ll find the sculpture in Rose’s Pond at Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park. Photos by Bill Harrison.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 913.477.7725 AskComDevel@lenexa.com Building permits, licenses (business, pet, rental, etc.), code violations, new development, engineering, right of way, traffic management, planning, zoning CITY ADMINISTRATION CityClerk@lenexa.com HUMAN RESOURCES HumanResources@lenexa.com COMMUNICATIONS Communications@lenexa.com Parks & Recreation Programs and classes, festivals and events, park maintenance, facility and shelter rentals, pools (see pg. 29 for facility hours and locations) 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday–Friday 913.477.7100 17201 W. 87th St. Pkwy.

12 Support and resources in difficult times Police Department Crime prevention and incident response, police reports, animal control, traffic safety, vacation house watch, school resource officers 913.477.7301 (non-emergency) 12500 W. 87th St. Pkwy.

Fire Department Fire prevention and incident response, burn permits, first aid training, fire extinguisher training, fire inspections 913.888.6380 (non-emergency) Administrative office: 9620 Pflumm Rd. Municipal Court Pay a ticket, court record search, victims’ rights 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday–Friday 913.477.7600 12400 W. 87th St. Pkwy.

Municipal Services Street repair and maintenance, street lights, snow and ice removal, stormwater drainage 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday–Friday 913.477.7880 7700 Cottonwood St.

TownTalk is published six times a year by the City of Lenexa. Please send questions or comments to communications@lenexa.com. Lenexa.com/TownTalk 2

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8 Providing exceptional service in a pandemic 10 A conversation with our Employee of the Year

CONTACT US City Hall 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday–Friday 913.477.7500 17101 W. 87th St. Pkwy.

7 A historic look at Vision 2020

15 Safe opportunities for recreation 17 Q&A with our new Parks & Recreation Director 18 Energy efficiency and sustainability initiatives 20 Maintaining a quality city with reinvestment 22 Development sets new records 23 Small business stories 25 Public safety service and education 27 Meet our new Police Chief 28 Recreation Program Guide

Stay up to date Sign up for a variety of e-newsletters that interest you: Lenexa.com/ENews

NEW YEAR, NEW OPPORTUNITIES

Photo by Bill Harrison

2020 was a historically difficult year, and we all look forward to a return to normalcy in 2021. While the beginning of the year may still be challenging and unsettling due the COVID-19 pandemic, you can make the start of 2021 a more positive experience by resolving to incorporate some constructive habits in your life. Whether you’re working to get fit, protect your home or support small businesses, on the next few pages you’ll find a few easy ideas for you to try in the new year.

Be more conscientious about fire hazards at home As we shut ourselves indoors to keep warm and prevent the spread of COVID-19, the winter months are filled with opportunities for fires to start. Half of all home heating fires occur in December, January and February.

Prevent property damage and injuries with these simple tips from the U.S. Fire Administration, National Fire Prevention Association and Lenexa Fire Department.

Heating equipment is involved in one in every seven home fires and one in every five home fire deaths.

• Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from heat sources like fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators or space heaters.

More than one-third of home decoration fires are started by candles.

The top three days for home candle fires are Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and New Year’s Eve.

• Keep portable generators outside, away from windows and as far from your home as possible.

• Keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything that burns.

• Install carbon monoxide detectors and test them at least once a month.

• Have a qualified professional clean and inspect your chimney and vents every year.

• Plug only one heat-producing appliance (like a space heater) into an electrical outlet at a time.

• Store cooled ashes in a tightly covered metal container, and keep it outside at least 10 feet from your home and any nearby buildings.

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LEARN TO UNWIND

These free community events at the Lenexa Rec Center will guide you through yoga routines to tone mind and body. Registration not required.

Bring your own yoga mat. Ages 16+

PREORDERS ONLY

Support local growers and makers at Winter Farmers Markets

Fireplace Yoga

Jan. 8 at 7 p.m.: Enjoy peaceful ambiance while mov-

Jan. 30, Feb. 27 and March 27, 10 a.m. to noon, Lenexa civic campus parking garage

ing through a progression of beginner yoga poses, followed by more dynamic poses and postures.

Get all your goodies in one easy location on the last Saturday of every month January through March. Expect cool season crops like onions and a variety of greens, along with mushrooms, pecans, cheese, meat and bakery items. Find vendor lists and preordering details at Lenexa.com/FarmersMarket.

Relax and Restore Yoga Class

Feb. 13 at noon: Relax with a vinyasa flow into restorative poses, and close the practice with a guided meditation.

Inspire your creativity with public art CALLS FOR ARTISTS Peace Poles — Community Art Project design proposals due Feb. 1 A colorful exhibit of creative and unique 3D artwork is coming to town, and you’re invited to participate! The Peace Poles – Community Art Project is a series of pole monuments designed by community members and adorned with creative designs and messages of peace. They will be exhibited in Lenexa during the summer and fall of 2021. This program is a partnership between the City of Lenexa, Lenexa Rotary Club, Rotary Club of Western Johnson County and the Lenexa Arts Council.

Residents, community groups, businesses and artists are invited to submit proposed designs for the Peace Pole exhibit by Feb. 1. A jury

committee will review submissions and invite accepted entrants to decorate their pole(s) for the exhibit. Judges will select award winners, and the community will vote on a People’s Choice Award. Following the exhibit, the peace poles will be sold via auction. Details at Lenexa.com/PeacePoles.

High School Student Art Show entries due Feb. 1 High school artists that live in Johnson County are invited to apply for a juried art show featuring 2D and 3D art. Students can submit up to three pieces and must have an art teacher cosponsor their entries. Artwork will be exhibited at Lenexa City Hall March 2–28. Details and application at Lenexa.com/Art.

CITY HALL ART GALLERY SHOWS The Lenexa Arts Council curates rotating 2D and 3D art shows at the Lenexa City Hall gallery.

Shows are free and open to the public. See the latest lineup at Lenexa.com/ArtGallery.

January art shows On display through Jan. 14

Browse Digital Dimensions and Beyond — a variety of images by local photography enthusiasts — plus colorful, handmade fiber garments by Marci Blank and acrylic paintings by Judith Gallipeau.

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HeART of Lenexa Contest

On display Jan. 26–Feb. 28. Reception and awards: Feb. 4, 6–7 p.m.

This popular annual show features artwork inspired by something each artist loves about Lenexa.

Peace Pole by Judy Tuckness

Quarterly Fitness Checkups

SET SMARTER FITNESS GOALS What’s your new year’s fitness resolution? Is it smart? Measurable? Achievable? Relevant? Time-bound? Whatever your resolution, it’s important to set objectives to help you achieve it and reach your S.M.A.R.T. goal!

Take a minute to think about your “why.” Why does this goal help you to be successful, healthy and happy in 2021? Now write down a couple of resolutions or “whys.”

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See yourself improve!

Track your fitness goals to keep yourself moving forward with a free fitness progress test Feb. 6 at the Lenexa Rec Center.

We’ll record the results of an InBody scan and four physical tests on a card so you can watch your physical fitness improve with work and determination. Free and open to the community.

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Now more than ever it is important that we focus on both our physical and mental well-being as we strive to obtain our goals and find our reason why. Here are a few ways the team at the Lenexa Rec Center is prepared to help you: We offer more than a dozen virtual Group X fitness classes every week via Zoom. A camera set up in our fitness studios allows you to join various cardio and yoga classes from home if you’re not ready or unable to attend in person.

Virtual personal training is a great way to keep active while staying in. Let our team of certified trainers assist you in finding a variety of ways to exercise from the comfort of your own home, with little to no equipment.

For those who are ready to venture outside the house, the Lenexa Rec Center is a clean and safe facility.

We seek to go above and beyond in our precautions so that you can safely recreate and exercise. These are just a few of the ways in which we are ensuring your health and safety: • Spread-out exercise equipment • Air scrubbers throughout the facility

touch areas • One-way traffic throughout the facility Whatever your why, we hope to see you either at home or the Rec Center as we each seek to keep ourselves physically and mentally fit. If you’d like to learn more about how the Rec Center could help you attain your why, visit us at Lenexa.com/RecCenter.

• Increased sanitation of all high-

Find a fun, flexible summer job Looking for a summer gig to earn some extra money and get great work experience? Join our aquatics and summer camp teams! We’re hiring: Caring, friendly, patient and energetic staff (ages 16+) to be counselors at our summer camps. Contact Sarah Hirst at shirst@lenexa.com for questions.

Outdoor lifeguards and cashiers for our outdoor pools. Lifeguards must be American Red Cross Lifeguard Certified.

We offer free training classes — apply soon, as these fill up quickly! For questions, contact Dan Seutter at dseutter@ lenexa.com.

To apply, go to Lenexa.com/Jobs.

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2020

A MESSAGE FROM

LENEXA MAYOR MIKE BOEHM

YEAR IN REVIEW

As 2020 draws to a close, I would like to reflect on this past year by acknowledging the challenges, applauding our adaptability and celebrating the successes of the Lenexa community. Like 1929, 1941, and 2001, 2020 will forever be remembered as a year like no other. I am joined by the Lenexa City Council and our City Staff in expressing our sympathy, empathy and acknowledgement that 2020 has impacted all of us in a very personal and distinct manner; yet through this difficult year, the City has continued to provide quality services and programming to meet the diverse needs of our residents and business investors.

I am very proud to note that the Lenexa City Hall and all essential services remained open and functioning at traditional service levels throughout 2020. The City Council worked hard as a team, whether in person or via Zoom, to continue to provide leadership for the staff and the community. City staff pivoted to convert our many functions from in-person interactions to socially distanced and digital formats to continue to serve the public. We appreciate the enthusiastic response of staff during these challenging times and celebrate their innovation throughout the year.

Lenexa remains strong from a financial perspective due to prudent fiscal management and our long-term approach to financial planning. While we adopt budgets annually, we monitor economic trends and continually review the City’s financial health through our five-year Capital Improvements Program and review of our five-year financial forecast models. Residential and commercial growth over the last 10-year period has provided revenue growth, and prudent review of expenditures — especially this year — continues to provide capacity to meet our service and financial obligations. For example, we have deferred final decisions regarding construction of the new public safety complex on Prairie Star Parkway and the expansion and renovation of the Lenexa Community Center and Senior Center in Old Town until spring 2021 to ensure these much-needed projects do not detrimentally impact our long-range financial health.

Historically, through our Year in Review reports and my State of the City presentation, we look back on the past year with a focus on accomplishments, and the articles in this issue of Town Talk will continue that tradition.

As we look forward to 2021 with hope and anticipation, we want to thank you for your continued support and look forward the time when we can gather again at our festivals and facilities to celebrate our community.

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Lenexans wished for improvements to their city through Vision 2020 — and letters to Santa A SPECIAL REPORT FROM THE LENEXA HISTORICAL SOCIETY Thirty years ago in The Lenexa Paper, Santa requested “wish lists” from Lenexans. The headline read: “Dear Santa Claus … Here are some things Lenexa needs for Christmas.” The article included numerous thoughtful, forward-looking responses. All were for the betterment of the city.

At about the same time, city leaders were laying groundwork for what would become Vision 2020, a

novel concept that brought together diverse groups of civic-minded people. Their task was to imagine how Lenexa should look in 2020 and formulate shared goals for the city.

It’s now 2020, and with absolute certainty, Santa granted many of those wishes (with some help from community leaders). Following are citizens’ requests from 1990 and how their wishes have become reality.

Photo by Bill Harrison

“Dear Santa, please bring Lenexa more parks. We have some great parks now, and it’s hard to look at them without wishing we had more.”

Wish granted: Black Hoof Park with Lake Lenexa and Cedar Station Park are just part of hundreds of additional acres of park land and green space.

“Dear Santa, please bring Lenexa an expanded recycling program and more concern about conservation and the environment.”

Wish granted: Lenexa’s innovative Rain to Recreation and stormwater cost share programs, discounted curbside compost service and mandatory recycling collection for all waste haulers support this goal.

Photo by Bill Harrison

Photo by Wendy Delzeit

Photo by Wendy Delzeit

“Dear Santa, please bring Lenexa a continuing small-town atmosphere — it’s one of the most attractive aspects of our city.”

Wish granted: Increased interest and participation in Lenexa’s numerous local festivals, special community gathering places in parks and at City Center, enthusiastic citizen involvement in Vision 2030 and 2040 forums are all testaments to our strong community spirit. Keeping Lenexa’s identity unique and welcoming is always paramount.

“Dear Santa, please bring Lenexa a skyline that reaches all the way to Renner Boulevard”.

Wish granted: In addition to vast development along Renner and the new City Center neighborhood, commercial and residential development stretches west beyond K-7.

“Dear Santa, please bring Lenexa a golf course, which is something more and more people would like to see in our city.”

Wish granted: You can spend an afternoon at Falcon Valley Golf Course, Canyon Farms Golf Club, Falcon Ridge Golf Club and a disc golf course in Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park.

Looking forward to the future is exciting and important, but so is learning about our past! The Lenexa Historical Society is a volunteer organization committed to preserving, promoting and presenting the story of Lenexa. You can learn more about the group at LenexaHistoricalSociety.org.

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PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL

SERVICE IN A PANDEMIC

The City of Lenexa was proud to win a “Leading the Way” award from ETC Institute in 2020 in recognition of outstanding achievement in the delivery of services to residents.

Recipients of the award ranked in the top 10% of local governments across the country in regard to their composite performances in three core areas assessed on ETC Institute’s DirectionFinder survey: • Satisfaction with the overall quality of services.

• Satisfaction with customer service provided by employees.

• Satisfaction with the value residents think they receive for local taxes and fees.

Lenexa is proud to be one of only 16 communities across the United States to receive the award in its inaugural year.

Farmers Market brings fresh food in a safe environment Shopping — and staying — close to home had a whole new meaning in 2020. Lenexa Farmers Market staff and vendors worked hard to adjust operations and provide our community with critical access to fresh, local food in the safest way possible during the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, many vendors developed online ordering options to better serve customers.

The Market featured products from 30 farmers and makers and attracted 15,000 shoppers during the regular season. It also offered a Winter Farmers Market for the first time in January and February, in addition to its third annual Holiday Farmers Markets.

STAFF ADAPT TO SUSTAIN TOP PRODUCTIVITY The crews responsible for maintaining our infrastructure and parks were hard at work in the field, even during the stay-at-home order. Taking precautions like staggering start times for crews helped keep staff safely on the job without sacrificing work output.

The pandemic provided some unusual opportunities, too. Crews were able to accelerate pavement work on Renner and College Boulevards during the stay-at-home order, when there would be less disruptions for traffic. With no need to set up for major festivals, Parks staff had more time to catch up on maintenance projects.

As construction boomed this year, staff completed record numbers of inspections, which often involve close contact with others. They found conducting video inspections was convenient for both parties, saved gas and drive time and prevented COVID-19 exposures. It’s now an option for inspections at existing homes, too.

NEW PET LICENSES BRING PEACE OF MIND: Have you purchased your 2021 pet license yet? This year, we started using new pet tags that come with several features to help return lost animals to their owners more quickly.

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PANDEMIC’S FINANCIAL DISRUPTIONS IMPACT BUDGET AND PROJECT PLANNING Balancing the City of Lenexa’s overall goal of providing outstanding services to the community with the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic effects has been top of mind while City leaders plan for 2021.

Lenexa ended 2019 in a strong financial position with healthy reserve balances. Once the pandemic began, staff were able to use reserves and other short-term measures — like leaving positions vacant, delaying some capital projects and delaying other operating expenses — to mitigate its effects.

Photo by Bill Harrison

PANDEMIC CHANGES IDENTIFY LONG-TERM OPPORTUNITIES FOR MUNICIPAL COURT Keeping Municipal Court operations moving smoothly and safely was challenging, but staff found that many of the changes they implemented will be good long-term enhancements to customer service.

In addition to physical changes in the lobby and courtroom, they added more court times to allow for smaller dockets. Virtual court options eliminated the need for personal appearances, and all attorney dockets were virtual only. Defendants could also wait in their cars and check in via phone, then wait for a text message to let them know it was their turn to speak to the judge or prosecutor.

REGISTER YOUR PET: Renew or get a new license at PetData.com.

The ongoing financial impact of the pandemic on the City’s revenue is still uncertain. For 2021, staff are projecting decreases in sales and use tax, investment income, special liquor tax, transient guest tax and other revenue sources. Assessed valuation has increased, partly due to strong construction growth throughout 2020.

In August, the Governing Body approved a 2021 Budget that slightly lowers the property tax rate to 29.242 mills (down from 29.319 mills in 2020) and decreases expenses by about $4 million.

The Governing Body then typically approves the next budget year’s Capital Improvement Program in late fall. With much uncertainty around the financial disruptions of the pandemic, City leaders decided to wait until spring 2021 to make decisions about major capital projects.

By March 2021, the City will have preliminary real estate assessed valuation, property tax and special assessment collection amounts for the January 2021 distribution and sales/use tax collection amounts for the holiday season. This data will help the City leaders to decide: • Whether additional adjustments to expenditures will be necessary in 2021.

• Which major capital projects can move forward in 2021 and if any will need to be delayed.

For more information on the 2021 Budget, go to Lenexa.com/Budget.

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CHIP VOIGTS

LENEXA’S 2020 EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR

Lauded for his perpetual professionalism and smile, dedication to public service and conscientiousness of using taxpayer dollars while ensuring his actions and those of his crew are viewed positively, Charles “Chip” Voigts was named Lenexa’s 2020 employee of the year. We asked Chip to share what he enjoys most about his work.

As Municipal Services street foreman, what does your job entail?

My job is very rewarding. We maintain the streets to keep them safe for Lenexa citizens. That translates to repaving, pothole removal and moving street debris. Everything must be kept to code for safe passage.

What’s the most rewarding or enjoyable part of your work?

The most rewarding part of the job is when you get a “thank you” or an “atta boy” from a citizen for a job well done. It also happens at Learning About Lenexa, a City-sponsored program that educates elementary school students. You see the look on the children’s faces after you have done an equipment demonstration for them. They get to see the equipment up close and ask questions. These times are very rewarding and always fun. Just another way Municipal Services strives for excellence for our City of Lenexa.

As the “snow boss,” how do you make decisions about how to handle snow events?

As a snow boss, we use many sources about upcoming weather and road conditions to put together a plan for the city. Each snow event has its own plan. The snow 10

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bosses work with the street superintendent to ensure that all road lane miles are cleared in a timely manner. Then, each snow route may be reviewed again by a snow boss to ensure that removal is adequate.

How has your work changed over the years?

Over the years, our job has become more challenging. At Municipal Services, we have the privilege of using updated equipment and accessories for road upkeep. We use new technology to follow weather forecasting to anticipate road needs. Road conditions are monitored remotely with cameras that are positioned throughout the city. Some of our bridges are now de-iced remotely using a computer program. The City trucks can be followed on a map as they travel through the city, either with asphalt for road repair or salt for snow removal. Ten years ago, we had none of these luxuries. It has made our team extremely efficient and expedient.

You’re often one of the first employees to sign up to work at after-hours events. Which do you most enjoy, and why?

I look forward every year to the Moonlight Bike Ride.

I also enjoy the Freedom Run 5K and 10K. My family enjoys the Great Lenexa BBQ Battle.

One of the most beneficial events, Dumpster Days, is held twice a year. Citizens may recycle most household items.

We add them to appropriate stations we have set up, then our team sorts the stations. Some items are donated to Habitat for Humanity. Some are sent to a technology waste yard. Tires or old rubber is transported to a special vendor

“One of the proudest moments I’ve had with the City was the day they honored my father, Mr. Norman Voigts, for his 25 years of service with Municipal Services for the City of Lenexa,” said 2020 Employee of the Year Chip Voigts, pictured here at the Municipal Services Department’s 2018 Truck or Treat event.

“Although I have only worked for the City of Lenexa for 18 years, I strive to do this job as proudly and honorably as my father did,” he said. “Our family and family name helped establish this City.

We were farming part of this land before it became the City of Lenexa. I am very proud to call Lenexa home.”

in downtown Kansas City. The remainder of the like items are grouped together and sent to proper places for recycling.

Lenexa even has a program that will show you how to make a rain barrel. It teaches a citizen how to catch and use the rainwater on your yard or flowers. Whatever it takes to work together and show pride in Lenexa and reduce our footprint.

They may be very little things, but each small step counts.

What’s one of the most memorable or interesting experiences you’ve had on the job?

One of the most memorable times I’ve had while working for the City of Lenexa happened on a regular workday when I had just left the Municipal Services compound heading for home. I received a page, returned the call, and the police dispatcher indicated that the Fire Department needed an assist with a large, rapidly growing mulch fire at 87th and Renner. I thought maybe the dispatcher may have contacted the wrong department. But what was needed was a front loader to scrape up large amounts of dirt to try to suffocate the fire. It worked.

MUNICIPAL SERVICES CONFIRMS COMMITMENT TO EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE WITH 2020 REACCREDITATION For the fifth consecutive time, the Lenexa Municipal Services Department has been accredited by the American Public Works Association (APWA). Only 162 public works agencies have received accreditation through APWA, placing Lenexa’s department among the finest in the country.

Through this voluntary formal evaluation process, the department was found to be in 100% compliance with all practices reviewed by the APWA. It was first accredited by the APWA in 2004 and has been reaccredited every four years since.

“Accreditation is used by our department to ensure that our practices and policies are keeping with nationally accepted professional standards and to demonstrate our commitment to continuous improvement in the delivery of exceptional service to our community,” said Nick Arena, Lenexa’s Municipal Services Director.

“This process has improved our effectiveness, enhanced communication among staff members and promoted teamwork and staff development.”

Lenexa’s Municipal Services Department employs more than 50 professionals responsible for maintaining the City’s public infrastructure, including streets, street signs, traffic lights, facilities, stormwater and fleet.

It’s just an example of how City services cross over to assist each other. Being a team player is crucial with a city of our size. We need to take care of each other.

Fortunately, this night, everyone was safe. The fire had to be monitored for some time.

What would surprise people to know about the work of the Municipal Services Department?

Something that might surprise citizens is that Municipal Services has a worker on call 24 hours a day for emergency situations. Though we pride ourselves on very few complaint calls, we strive to answer and respond to each one in a timely manner.

Members of the Lenexa Municipal Services Department received the We Care team award at Lenexa’s virtual employee awards for assisting with tornado recovery work in Linwood, Kansas.

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PROVIDING THE COMMUNITY WITH COMPASSIONATE

SUPPORT + RESOURCES DURING DIFFICULT TIMES

Public safety staff brighten children’s birthdays Events like Cocoa with a Cop (pictured) and fire station tours help foster positive relationships between children and our first responders. But with in-person events largely canceled beginning in March, we had to try something new.

Kids missed out on having friends over for their birthdays during the pandemic — but public safety staff came to the rescue! Fire trucks and police cars delighted birthday boys and girls with chirping sirens, flashing lights and friendly waves to mark these special days.

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Additional mental health co-responder helps police aptly address crisis calls The Lenexa Police Department is committed to serving those with mental health needs and strives to stay current with the ever-changing landscape of the mental health crisis. Recognizing the need for additional support on mental health calls, the department added a second mental health co-responder in January 2020.

The mental health co-responder program’s goal is to provide the appropriate mental health intervention at the right time to prevent unnecessary arrests, decrease trips to the emergency room and reduce repeat police calls for service. The co-responder responds on scene with a law enforcement officer on calls when behavioral health is identified as a possible contributing factor. Co-responders also conduct outreach and follow-up calls to individuals who had police contact as a result of a behavioral crisis with the intention of getting the person the help they need.

The co-responder often works with trained officers from the Crisis Intervention Team to provide communitybased interventions, follow-ups and referrals. This benefits those with mental health needs, the criminal justice system, and the community as a whole.

Having two mental health professionals embedded in the department allows for increased coverage hours, more timely follow-ups with those in crisis and frees patrol officers to respond to other calls for service.

LENEXA POLICE RESPONDED TO NEARLY 900 CALLS FOR SERVICE INVOLVING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS BY LATE NOVEMBER 2020.

SMALLER, SAFER CELEBRATIONS By limiting capacity and implementing other precautions in accordance with public health guidelines, we still offered rental facilities like Thompson Barn so important life milestones could be celebrated. If you’re looking for a place for a post-pandemic gathering, learn more at Lenexa.com/ThompsonBarn.

Senior Center finds new ways to serve residents with facility closed Because the population it serves is at risk for severe illness, the Lenexa Senior Center was closed throughout the pandemic in 2020.

Rather than offering the usual group lunch program, the Senior Center became a weekday pickup site for hot meals through Johnson County Nutrition Services.

See page 35 for more details on this program.

Lenexa Parks & Recreation also teamed up with retirement communities to provide free turkey dinners for 350 seniors as part of a drivethrough Holiday Senior Banquet in December.

Rejoining county grant program will help keep homes safe and maintained in 2021 This summer, the City of Lenexa rejoined Johnson County’s Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnerships programs.

Lenexa had managed its own allocation of CDBG funding — a longtime program of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development — once it reached the minimum population to do so in 2015.

Why is this important for Lenexans? By rejoining the County’s programs, residents will be able to take advantage of Johnson County’s more-robust home repair assistance services.

These income-based programs can help fund a wider range of home improvements — including heating and cooling system repair/ replacement, window replacement, wood rot repair, painting and roof replacement — than Lenexa’s current assistance programs.

Lenexa residents will be eligible to apply after Jan. 1, 2021. To learn more, visit Lenexa.com/YourHome.

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SUMMER CAMPS SUPPORT WORKING PARENTS WITH SAFE CHILD CARE

Meeting increased need for recreation scholarships The Lenexa Parks & Recreation Scholarship Program makes programs and memberships more affordable for Lenexa residents with demonstrated financial need. Since it began in 2017, this vital fund has provided scholarships to more than 125 families and individuals annually.

We saw a 15% increase in scholarship requests in 2020. All of these were families asking for help with a Rec Center membership so they could have a healthy place to exercise and spend time.

Make a donation at Lenexa.com/Scholarships.

PICTURED BELOW: Lenexa’s first-ever Swingin’ for a Scholarship Pickleball Tournament Fundraiser at the Bois D’Arc pickleball complex in September raised over $5,000 for the Parks & Recreation Scholarship Program.

Lenexa’s licensed summer day camps were essential for child care needs during the pandemic, with 70 kids enrolled each week for the entire summer camp.

Parks & Recreation extended the program five extra weeks into September due to delayed school openings, with an average of 40–50 kids per week.

POLICE WELCOMED CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PUBLIC TO STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY AND COMMITMENT TO QUALITY PRACTICES The Lenexa Police Department welcomes civil and constructive dialogue, and this year saw many people seeking to learn more about our department. After the tragic death of George Floyd in Minneapolis — which we unequivocally denounced — we received numerous questions about our policies, training, equipment and accountability. What followed were many mutually respectful and productive conversations with the community.

The Lenexa Police Department is never content with maintaining the status quo; we are always looking for ways to learn and adapt where needed. Our department has long advocated for and is committed to promoting equity and inclusion, good policing practices, transparent operations and stringent accountability standards.

You’ll find evidence of this commitment throughout our practices, including becoming the first law enforcement agency in the metro area to implement body-worn cameras for all officers, seeking guidance from a community advisory board and requiring extensive training.

If you’re interested in learning more about how we handle areas such as use-of-force investigations, community engagement, accountability and professional standards, go to Lenexa.com/Police and click on the Department Practices page. You’ll find helpful information about some of the most common questions we receive.

Photo by Bill Harrison

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Photo by Bill Harrison

SAFE OPPORTUNITIES FOR

RECREATION TO STAY HEALTHY, ACTIVE & HAPPY

Rec Center exercises flexibility to meet community’s fitness needs The Lenexa Rec Center’s membership — over 10,000 strong early in the year — plummeted by more than one-third in the first five months of the COVID-19 pandemic. During a two-month closure early on, we developed detailed plans to operate the facility while meeting evolving state and county requirements.

The Rec Center reopened to members in June and gradually became accessible to nonmembers over time.

For those eager to get back to the gym, we put in place numerous safety precautions. Those who weren’t comfortable returning in person didn’t have to give up on their fitness routines. The Rec Center brought the gym back to people in a variety of ways, including offering dozens of free online workout videos, outdoor classes, virtual personal training services and a Virtual Class Pass to take selected Group X fitness classes from the comfort of home.

BIKESHARE PROGRAM SEES EARLY SUCCESS Lenexa’s bikeshare program, a partnership with RideKC Bike, launched Oct. 1 and saw excellent participation. These e-bikes — available at about a dozen locations across the city — were put in storage for the winter and will be available again in spring.

436 trips were taken on Lenexa’s e-bikes during October and November.

NEW OURTS SPORT C IG HIT ARE A B d newly rebuilt

e opene , which In June, w two parks in s rt ns. u o c sport destinatio r la u p o p came two quickly be rails Park now has T r a y e rink Sar-Ko-P roller hock a d n a s rt er and tennis cou dates socc four o m m o c c that also a ’Arc Park, . At Bois D ll a b m ame o bro courts bec old tennis -of-the-art eight state courts. pickleball TOWNTALK

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Lenexans get outdoors in record numbers Lenexa rediscovered outdoor recreational opportunities available in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. We saw much greater use of trails, parks, playgrounds, sport courts, athletic fields and other amenities than usual.

A growing number of kids sought to learn fundamental skills of popular sports through Lenexa Parks & Recreation. Our youth soccer and basketball leagues attracted record participation in 2020.

14% 77%

increase in youth basketball participation

increase in youth soccer participation More than

310,000

people passed by pedestrian counters at Black Hoof Park, Little Mill Creek North Park and Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park as of late November 2020.

Pool employees wiped down high-touch areas approximately

14,136

times to ensure staff and patron safety.

SUCCESSFUL SEASON AT INDIAN TRAILS AQUATIC CENTER During summer 2020, we were able to operate Lenexa’s largest outdoor pool — Indian Trails Aquatic Center — and accommodate all Lenexa residents who visited. Overall, we maintained social distancing practices and didn’t need to institute wait times for entry. As a result, Lenexa Parks & Recreation: • Offered life-saving swim lessons.

• Welcomed more than 24,000 smiling faces — 4,000 more visitors than last year.

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Photo by Wendy Delzeit

Altered festivals and programs provide socially distanced fun In the City of Festivals, residents love to come together for lively community events. During the pandemic, many popular festivals and events were either canceled or reimagined with social distancing in mind.

Highlights included the virtual Freedom Run 5K/10K, Gobbler Gallop 5K, drive-in Movies in the Park, fishing derbies, pop-up concerts in partnership with the Lyric Opera and Kansas City Symphony and three home/yard decorating contests (Community Days Porch Parade, FallO-Ween Yard Tour and Deck the City Holiday Lights Tour).

When the pandemic initially descended in the spring, all recreation programs continued in a virtual format, including dance, karate, art and homeschool PE.

Q&A WITH NEW PARKS & RECREATION DIRECTOR

LOGAN WAGLER Former Deputy Director Logan Wagler stepped into the lead position in our Parks & Recreation Department on Nov. 30. “We are fortunate to have such an outstanding candidate within our organization,” City Manager Beccy Yocham said. “Logan is passionate about how recreation and green spaces can positively impact lives and is extremely dedicated to Lenexa.” Read Logan’s full interview at Lenexa.com/CityNews.

What do you hope to accomplish as the new director?

Lenexa is such a strong community, and our residents place such importance on parks and recreation facilities, programs and events. I hope to sustain and improve upon the high quality of life that makes this community so great. Over time, I hope to address some of our existing aging infrastructure while continuing to expand our park and trail system to match the growth of the community. I also know that we must continue to be fiscally responsible to best maximize our resources.

What is the best-kept secret about one of Lenexa’s parks?

This is tough; there are so many great places and hidden gems. If I had to choose, I would say Green Prairie Park. It has a ton to offer for a small neighborhood park, including a unique playground, basketball court, green space, shade and a picnic area. I just have to mention the nature trail that winds up a huge hill in Craig’s Crossing. It’s a cool adventure to take the kids on.

What would surprise people to know about working in Parks & Recreation?

Working in parks and recreation is so rewarding because you get to make a meaningful and profound impact on the quality of life within the community. It always sounds like so much

fun, but it requires a lot of adaptability, hard work and sacrifice. Since most people “play” when they’re off work, we have to work a lot of nights and weekends.

How does your team keep Lenexa’s public green spaces looking so great?

We are lucky to have a dedicated group of professional staff that understand how important it is to provide high-quality parks and green spaces that are safe and bring value to the community. Our staff are very resourceful and take pride in our green spaces like it’s their own yard!

Describe a project or effort that you are especially proud of.

There is so much to be proud of, but I really am proud of projects that reinvest in existing parks. We get to take something that is tired and breathe new life into it. The improvements within Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park, including the renovation of the pond and spillway along with the addition of the Grand Pavilion shelter, has been incredible. This took an already amazing park and made it more walkable, connected and offered even more recreation opportunities.

I like to call Sar-Ko Par Trails Park the “Heart of Lenexa,” because I think no matter where you live in Lenexa you have enjoyed that park in multiple ways. Anytime I am there, especially

in the evening or on a weekend, I can feel the energy in the park. It is incredible!

How has Parks & Recreation met the evolving needs of residents over time?

There are so many examples, but a recent one is the emergence and growth of pickleball. It wasn’t that many years ago when pickleball wasn’t even a thing in Lenexa; now it’s our most robust program. To better meet the demand within our community, we reimagined and reconstructed the tennis court facilities at Bois D’ Arc Park. We changed the programming to include eight dedicated pickleball courts and a variety of player amenities that provide good socialization opportunities. Seeing the transformation and watching the community flock to this location has been amazing.

Another example is our Parks & Recreation Scholarship Program.

Several years ago, we began to see a rise in financial hardship within the community as a barrier for access to some of our recreation programs and memberships to the Rec Center. We created a scholarship program for those with a demonstrated need. The demand for scholarships continues to increase so we have expanded our efforts to raise funding. This includes an annual Pickleball Tournament and donation drives.

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ENERGY EFFICIENCY + SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES PROTECT OUR CLIMATE AND NATURAL RESOURCES HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR LED STREETLIGHT REPLACEMENT PROGRAM Lenexa owns

8,299

streetlights on roads and in City-owned parking lots, and leases 162 lights from Evergy.

At the end of 2020,

98%

of our streetlights have been converted to LED. The remaining 2% will be replaced as part of upcoming projects next spring and summer.

Over the last five years, we’ve installed LED streetlights as part of

80

public improvement projects.

These new lights have provided brighter, safer streets while saving energy, money and maintenance time.

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Photo by Bill Harrison

CLIMATE ACTION PLAYBOOK TO SERVE AS PLANNING RESOURCE In August, 2020, the Lenexa City Council accepted the Climate Action Playbook developed by Climate Action KC, a community partnership dedicated to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting a thriving, climate-resilient Kansas City metro region.

The Playbook includes recommended actions as policies to reduce pollution and its negative effects, plus provides a menu of ideas ready to implement at the local level. The recommended actions are built around six areas: • Buildings and cities • Electricity generation • Food • Land use

• Materials • Transportation The Playbook encourages local governments to choose strategies appropriate for their jurisdiction by taking into account city resources (staffing and fiscal) and stakeholder perspectives. Strategies at the local level can include leading by example, public outreach and education, new programs, encouraging action by the private sector or code amendments and policies.

The Governing Body will use the Playbook as a guide and menu of strategies to consider as opportunities arise for policies, codes and other City actions related to climate change.

At two Dumpster Days weekends at the Municipal Services Service Center on July 18–19 and Oct. 3–4:

866

20.79

vehicles drove through

tons of steel recycled

15.71

tons of e-waste recycled

Greenhouse operations yield thousands of native blooms and grasses Our crews grew more than 15,000 plants from seed or seedlings in the City’s greenhouses in 2020. Staff collected seeds from plants on City-owned property and grew them in polyhouses over the winter. Once mature, the perennials were used in street medians, flowerbeds, rain gardens and bioretention cells on City property. Compared to purchasing plants from a nursery, the City saved about $70,000. Lenexa is one of few cities in the area to operate a greenhouse that grows plants at this scale.

CURBSIDE COMPOST DISCOUNTS To encourage residents to keep food waste out of landfills, the City of Lenexa negotiated 30% discounts with two curbside compost providers. You can sign up for the reduced rate at CompostCollectiveKC.com or FoodCycleKC.com.

New rain gardens at City Center and Bois D’Arc Park provide ecofriendly stormwater management, food for pollinators and beauty for the surrounding area. Filled with swamp milkweed, butterfly milkweed, blue lobelia and cardinal flower, they were popular with monarch butterflies this fall. Learn to build your own rain garden at Lenexa.com/CostShare.

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MAINTAINING A QUALITY CITY THROUGH STRATEGIC

REINVESTMENT Proactive pipe replacement prevents flooding and costly repairs in neighborhoods Lenexa has more than 60 miles of corrugated metal pipe for stormwater infrastructure. It’s susceptible to corrosion, which causes sinkholes and flooding. The Stormwater Infrastructure Replacement Program proactively replaces the aging network in priority areas each year.

Improvements were completed in The Cedars and Lakeview (87th Street Parkway to Santa Fe Trail Drive from Pflumm Road to Little Mill Creek) neighborhoods that will prevent future drainage issues and emergency repairs. New work also started in Ashley Park.

Sometimes, these pipes fail before they can be replaced. This happened at two locations on 95th Street — Dice Lane and Haskins Street — where pipe failures required emergency repairs.

PREP WORK BEGINS ON MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS AT 87TH STREET PARKWAY AND I-435 You may have noticed some activity near 87th Street Parkway and I-435. Utility work was expected to begin in December as part of extensive improvements to add capacity at the interchange. Additional through lanes and turn lanes will be added to the I-435 exit ramps and to 87th Street Parkway from Renner Boulevard to Maurer Road. The traffic signals at 87th Street Parkway and the I-435 ramp terminal intersections will be replaced, and 10-foot-wide multiuse trails will be added on both sides of the road. Construction is expected to start in spring.

20

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Park projects keep outdoor spaces safe and beautiful With no major festivals to prepare for, Parks staff could devote extra time to maintenance work. In 2020, Lenexa’s Park Maintenance Division made major landscape improvements to medians and parks, as well as renovated turf and reestablished grass in various locations. We also installed bollard lights to better illuminate the area around Rose’s Pond at Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park and the entrance to Bois D’Arc Park.

Photo by Bill Harrison

ABUNDANT UPGRADES AT SANTA FE TRAIL DRIVE AND 95TH STREET Several operational issues needed to be addressed at the intersection of Santa Fe Trail Drive and 95th Street: excessive congestion and delays as the result of heavy turning movements, driveways too close to the intersection and inadequate

accommodations for bicyclists and pedestrians.

The newly improved intersection now includes right turn lanes for each direction of traffic, an extended eastbound left turn lane,

realigned driveways, ADA ramps and accessible pedestrian signals and storm drainage improvements.

A new monument sign also marks the entrance to Lenexa’s historic Old Town district.

QUIVIRA RD.

79TH ST.



PRAIRIE STAR PKWY.

PFLUMM

RD. LACKMAN



RENNER BLVD.

K-7

WOODLAND RD.

CLARE RD.

87TH ST. PKWY.

RD.

83RD ST.

83RD ST.

95TH ST.

I-35

I-435

K-10

Keeping our transportation network in good condition



COLLEGE BLVD.

Preventive repairs and repainting were completed this year on the Little Mill Creek and Coon Creek bridges on Prairie Star Parkway.

The Pavement Management Program resurfaced streets in several neighborhoods, including Four Colonies, Post Oak and Oak Manor, plus sections of major thoroughfares.

Previously rolled into the Pavement Management Program, Lenexa launched a dedicated program this year to repair sidewalks and address missing gaps for a safer pedestrian system. About 5,100 linear feet of sidewalks were repaired or added in the Century Estates and Falcon Ridge subdivisions.

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SETTING NEW RECORDS FOR

New Ridgeview Road section attracts interest in development At the center of Lenexa, a subterranean business park sprawls through former limestone mines. But creating new development above ground has long been prohibitively difficult due to rocky, rolling terrain, mine waste and lack of infrastructure.

The City of Lenexa invested $29.9 million to extend Ridgeview Road from Prairie Star Parkway to Kansas Highway 10 and make other surrounding improvements, moving nearly 106 Olympic swimming pools of rock and soil.

The new mile of road opened in April. In 2020, the City of Lenexa received three applications for new development along the roadway, including 7,000 square feet of retail space, a 100,000-square-foot warehouse/office building and a 410-unit, three-story climate-controlled selfstorage building.

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DEVELOPMENT Even when sales lagged, City recreation facilities closed and office buildings sent employees home, our planners, engineers, inspectors and permit technicians found themselves hustling to keep up with historic levels of development.

By the end of November, Lenexa had already seen $433 million in development permits issued — that includes new residential and commercial construction, building additions, tenant finishes, remodeling and other construction. This will be just the third time in the City’s history that development has surpassed $400 million. With $45 million in pending permits, Lenexa could still surpass 2018’s all-time record of $466 million by the end of the year.

In 2020, the City has reached historic records for:

$108 million

636 New multifamily units

884 New New residential commercial units (includes construction

$162

$215.8 million Total residential construction $466.2 M

single- and multifamily)

million

TOTAL CONSTRUCTION VALUATION

New multifamily construction $433 M*

$420.9 M

$277.8 M

$299.2 M

$322.8 M

$310.8 M

*As of Dec. 1, 2020 2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

CITY STAFF WORK WITH BUSINESSES TO MEET PANDEMIC’S EVOLVING DEMANDS Lenexa is home to many businesses in the bioscience, manufacturing and logistics industries. This year, those businesses had to adapt quickly to meet the shifting public health and economic challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whether a company was looking to add mobile research units to its property or expand its shipping or manufacturing capacity, these changes had to be reviewed and approved by City staff in divisions like Codes and Planning.

Even when they received a unique, unprecedented request that needed to be reviewed in a time-sensitive manner, staff worked diligently to help these industries efficiently expand so they could manufacture millions of testing supplies, conduct clinical trials for federal research programs, manage increased demand on logistics and supply chains and expand outdoor dining areas.

2020’S 10 LARGEST COMMERCIAL PROJECTS

BY VALUATION

1 Lenexa Logistics East, Building 4 Warehouse at Renner Boulevard and 116th Street

2 Amazon Warehouse

College Boulevard and Mill Creek Road Photo by Bill Harrison

3 Meritex Lenexa Executive Park Surface Buildings

Warehouses at 99th Street and Britton Street

4 Johnson County Veterans Affairs

Healthcare facility at Thompson Avenue and 113th Street

5 Stortroplis Self Storage

102nd Street and Cherry Lane

6 Thermo Fisher Project Patriot

Warehouse at Harbinger Street and 116th Street

7 Midwest Sikh Gurudwara

Place of worship at 101st Street and Lone Elm Road

8 MHS Holdings

107th Street and Lackman Road

Small business stories from a pandemic year Supporting small businesses in our community is always a great idea — but it’s critical in these difficult economic times as entrepreneurs struggle with keeping their businesses open, staff employed, families healthy and customers satisfied. The merchants at the Lenexa Public Market shared some of their challenges from the pandemic, and how they’re adapting.

“Honestly, the most challenging aspect of the COVID-19 crisis was the initial shutdown. I was so uncertain of the future. The really difficult part for me was conveying the news to my staff; I had no foreseeable solutions to offer. It is still tough for me to reflect on that moment. I felt that I had failed my crew when they entrusted me, invested their time and talent to building CHEWOLOGY. However, the kitchen family is ultimately what kept me pushing through these tough times. The idea of being able to bring everyone back was the light at the end of the tunnel. I am grateful today, with support of the City and guests, we now have the team back despite this uncertain time.

“The circumstances are ever-changing and we’re doing everything we can to keep up; but always, even during the darkest moments, the support and check-ins from the community give us a reason to push through and strive to do our best. Thank you Lenexa.” — Chewology

Continued on page 24 TOWNTALK

23

Butterfield’s Bakery & Market

8750 Penrose Ln. View to-go menus and hours for the Market and individual merchants at LENEXAPUBLICMARKET.COM

Photo by Bill Harrison “I have owned and operated a specialty flower business for over 20 years, so it was very natural for me to move the shop to my home studio and work remotely while still meeting customers’ needs each day.

We were surprisingly busy during this time.

This also allowed time for some major renovation of our new studio. The big challenges we faced the most with this year have been more so with the cancellations/ rescheduling of weddings and events. We are still having a difficult time receiving product. Many major growers in other countries lost the labor or had to pull their crop because they could not harvest and sell it. We do our best with a close substitution of what we can get our hands on. It’s a little stressful, but it is what it is.”

– The Flower Market “One of the most challenging aspects of this pandemic was within myself; to control my own emotions because of the fear of the unknown and trying to fully understand what was happening and how it would affect my business and personal life. It also became really difficult to find common products like eggs and meat. We would have to drive to several different places to find the ingredients I needed. It’s always difficult to build new habits but I feel much better knowing I’ve done my part to keep my staff and my customers safe.” — Red Kitchen “While Sohaila and Pervaiz are both healthy and active, both face health issues that put them in a “high-risk” category in terms of COVID. With this, as a family we have thought about how to pivot our business model to adapt to the changes, while still being safe and healthy. We offer curbside pickup to customers who request it, and we’ve added more hours in order 24

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to be more accessible to our patrons who choose to go out to eat at slower times of the week. Customers can directly buy gift cards from our website to give to loved ones for the holidays. We’re still learning and adapting to daily changes, but we are trying our best!” — Sohaila’s Kitchen “We have faced the same challenges many small businesses have this year due to coronavirus restrictions, but more importantly just due to customers’ changing preferences. Dealing with extremely lower volume as people have preferred drive-thru restaurants and safer options than in-person dining has been difficult. We have had to shrink our staff, change all of our orders to be packaged to go, and offer other services such as third-party delivery and curbside pickup. Many changes are likely to be permanent shifts in customer preferences. Our regular customers and our loyal supporters are keeping us going through this difficult time, and it helps that some people remember how important it is to shop and eat local whenever possible!”

— Topp’d Pizza + Salads “We lost a huge chunk of our business because of the shutdown, and all the events being canceled. Pre-pandemic, we would usually attend about 25 events per year. It was frustrating going from having our best year yet in sales to being completely shut down. We’ve adapted by promoting our sales online, as well as selling personal protection equipment to local companies and at the Lenexa Public Market too. We are very pleased and thankful for the online sales and all the positive feedback from our customers, and of course we are extremely thankful for our health and the health of our family and friends.” — We Got Your Back Apparel

The Lenexa Public Market was delighted to welcome a new anchor tenant as Butterfield’s Bakery & Market opened in December!

Owner/chef Kate Smith got her start at the Public Market selling French macarons on a day cart in March 2019 and opened a Market stall, Kate Smith Soirée soon after.

Butterfield’s — named in honor of Kate’s grandmother — serves soups, salads and sandwiches featuring house-made breads for lunch and dinner and brunch on the weekends. Fans of Kate Smith Soirée will enjoy a wider selection of sweets and pastries, plus ice cream shakes and floats in a range of flavors.

See the menu and hours at ButterfieldsKC.com.

Photo by Wendy Delzeit

TOP-QUALITY

PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES + EDUCATION Record recruiting In September, the Lenexa Police Department swore in its largest-ever recruiting class of 13 police officers. We remain committed to hiring high-quality candidates and providing top-notch training. Learn more about careers with the Lenexa Police Department at JoinLenexaPD.com.

Testing a new fire station location Accreditation process and analysis of the Fire Department’s performance data revealed a need to improve response times to the northeast area of the community. To study the outcomes of having a fire station in this area, the department converted some unused space at the former City Hall as a temporary base of operation starting in mid-September 2020.

Data continues to be collected and evaluated, but improvements in response times are being realized with this new arrangement. The department continues to work with City leaders to identify ways to expand coverage.

MAKING PHYSICAL & MENTAL HEALTH A PRIORITY The Fire Department continues to work toward reducing occupational risks associated with exposure to cancer-causing agents and post-traumatic stress injuries.

Cancer prevention program improvements in 2020 included the installation of a diesel emissions direct capture ventilation system in apparatus bays. This will improve environmental conditions in an area often occupied by firefighters completing maintenance, training and response activities.

Firefighters are regularly summoned to intervene in visually and emotionally disturbing scenarios. The Department partnered with Paws for Autism (a division of pawsable. life) for a three-month fostering agreement to evaluate the effectiveness and potential benefits having a dog in the fire station has on the well-being of responders. The trial will determine if this arrangement is warranted on a more permanent basis as part of the department’s health and wellness initiatives. It will also help prepare the foster dog to become a care provider for someone with autism or another condition that is improved greatly by the intelligent companionship of a service dog.

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Outreach adapts

TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE The Lenexa Police Department has a proud history of professionalism, from the top executive to the front-line officer.

The Lenexa Fire Department adapted to 2020’s unique circumstances to reach both current and new audiences with fire prevention education.

• Since in-person classroom presentations weren’t allowed this year, Fire Department staff created videos with age-appropriate fire safety lessons following our previously established curriculums.

• The Prevention Division hosted three public service announcement videos with the assistance of several surrounding fire departments. Videos showing the dangers of using water to put out a grease fire, improperly frying a turkey and incorrectly caring for a Christmas tree were shared with our residents and other Fire Departments across the metro area.

• Staff missed getting to see kids (young and old) visit the stations, climb on the trucks and be mesmerized by the size of it all. Video tours using cell phones and Zoom links helped residents safely experience our Fire operations until they can visit in person.

Members of the Lenexa Fire Department received the Teamwork award at Lenexa’s employee awards virtual event for their lifesaving response to a fire at Rosehill Pointe Apartments.

In October, now-retired Chief Thomas Hongslo (pictured with new Chief Dawn Layman) became the third Lenexa police chief to receive the prestigious Clarence M. Kelley Award for Outstanding Law Enforcement Officer, joining John Foster (1988) and Ellen Hanson (1996). In the 40-year history of the award, only one other Kansas City metro agency, the Kansas City Missouri Police Department (a four-time winner), has won this honor more times than the Lenexa Police Department.

STREET SAFETY Infrastructure also plays an important role in public safety. A new traffic signal at 79th Street and Renner Road will help prevent vehicle accidents at the entrance to popular Shawnee Mission Park while creating a safer route for bicyclists and pedestrians.

ENHANCING TECH The Lenexa Fire Department continually looks for ways to improve service and performance through leveraging technologies.

Additional enhancements this year included reinvesting in audiovisual technology for training purposes, plus new digital dashboards in all fire stations to improve situational awareness and data accessibility. The dashboard was created internally and would have come at a significant cost if outsourced.

26

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DAWN LAYMAN NAMED AS LENEXA’S NEW POLICE CHIEF The City of Lenexa welcomed Dawn Layman as its new Chief of Police in December. Layman is a 27-year veteran of the Lenexa Police Department and now leads its nearly 150 sworn and civilian personnel.

Layman is the fourth person to serve as Lenexa’s police chief. Her appointment follows the retirement of Chief Thomas Hongslo, who retired after a distinguished 31-year career in law enforcement.

“The Police Chief holds an important role for Lenexa, and we know that Dawn will excel leading this department,” said City Manager Beccy Yocham.

“Our residents have great confidence in our Police Department, and Dawn’s strong belief in communitybased policing principles will help ensure we keep that trust.”

Layman earned a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Kansas. Layman has also completed 15 hours of coursework toward a Ph.D. in criminal justice. She is a graduate of the 59th session of the Police Executive Research Forum Senior Management Institute for Police and the 251st session of the FBI National Academy.

“I am certainly humbled to continue to serve the Lenexa community in this new role,” said Layman. “I am honored to lead our agency into the future and continue to work alongside some of the most dedicated and professional men and women in law enforcement. The members of the Lenexa Police Department are committed to providing exceptional service on a daily basis to all.”

Layman began her career with the Lenexa Police Department (LPD) as a patrol officer in 1993. In addition to her time in patrol, Layman also had assignments as a bike officer, a directed patrol officer and a detective. She was promoted to the ranks of sergeant, lieutenant, captain, major and deputy chief.

Prior to coming to Lenexa, Layman was an officer with the West Chester University (Pennsylvania) Police Department, where she was named Rookie of the Year in 1991 and Officer of the Year in 1992. She also worked as a part-time police officer with both the East Fallowfield and Kennett Square Borough (PA) police departments.

Layman spearheaded many technology and grant-writing initiatives at the LPD, which led to the early implementation of body-worn cameras in 2009, a license plate recognition program, a robust traffic camera network, a public-private security camera partnership and crime analysis software. She was also instrumental in the development of the LPD’s mentoring program, pairing new hires with current employees.

In 2015, Layman was named the Motorola Woman Law Enforcement Executive of the Year by the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives.

Layman serves as vice chair for the Survivors of Blue Suicide Foundation, a national organization whose mission is to foster hope by uniting survivors of law enforcement suicide to support one another and honor our fallen heroes. She is also a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Kansas Peace Officers Association and previously served as President for the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives.

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Registering for classes & programs Online: Lenexa.com/GetActive Fast, easy and no lines! Provides immediate enrollment confirmation.

Use the Activity Number (example: #124356) at the end of each course description to quickly find it at Lenexa.com/GetActive. Select “Search” in the top menu bar, then type the code into the Activity Number box.

RECREATION

PROGRAM GUIDE JANUARY–EARLY MARCH 2021

New users will create a household account listing each household member.

Walk-in: Lenexa Rec Center, 17201 W. 87th St. Pkwy., Lenexa, KS 66219 = 10% discount for Rec Center X Pass members

Waitlist Participants who wish to register for activities where capacity enrollment has been reached will go on a waitlist. Once space becomes available, participants will be notified.

Cancellation policies All program cancellations will be determined two business days before the class is scheduled to begin. All registrations are required before the 48-hour deadline. You’ll be notified if a program has been canceled or changed. If you need to cancel, call at least five business days before the program begins. Refunds only made if cancellation does not affect minimum participant number. There will be a $5 processing fee.

Refunds take 3–6 weeks and are not granted after the activity begins. Some senior trips and programs have their own cancellation policies.

Scholarships available Lenexa Parks & Recreation offers scholarships to make memberships and programs more affordable for Lenexa residents. Visit Lenexa.com/Parks or call 913.477.7100 to learn more.

ADA accommodations The City of Lenexa is committed to making reasonable accommodations for disabled persons, as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Requests for accommodations must be made at least 10 business days prior to the activity.

Questions? Call 913.477.7100 Mon.–Fri. 8 a.m.–6 p.m. or email parksandrec@ lenexa.com.

Sign up for Rainout Line to keep up with closures, cancellations and notifications.

Email/text: RainoutLine.com • Phone: 913.477.7170 Free mobile app • Program pages: Lenexa.com/Parks RECREATION PROGRAM GUIDE

23

2021 OUTDOOR POOL MEMBERSHIP RATES AVAILABLE FOR RESIDENTS ONLY AT THIS TIME

• Core Pass: Access to all Rec Center amenities •

Pass: Access to all Rec Center amenities, Group X fitness classes and a 10% discount on programs and services • Day Pass: Access as a Core Pass member, plus one Group X fitness class

REGULAR RATE

RESIDENT DISCOUNT

Monthly

Annual

Monthly

Annual

Adult (18–59)

$53

$583

$42

$462

Youth (12–17)

$41

$451

$33

$363

Senior (60+)

$48

$528

$38

$418

Household*

$88

$968

$70

$770

Plus 1**

$25

$275

$20

$220

CORE PASS

PASS Adult (18–59)

$78

$858

$62

$682

Youth (12–17)

$66

$726

$53

$583

Senior (60+)

$73

$803

$58

$638

Household*

$113

$1,243

$90

$990

$30

$330

$25

$275

Plus 1** DAY PASS Single Punch card

$10 per day

$8 per day

$90 for 10 visits

$72 for 10 visits

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS ARE 12 MONTHS FOR THE PRICE OF 11

• 2020 season passes are also good for the 2021 season.

• New passes: Must be purchased in person at the Lenexa Rec Center Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Pass renewals: Can be purchased at Lenexa.com/GetActive.

• Passes provide access to Lenexa’s outdoor pools and do not include admission to the indoor pool at the Lenexa Rec Center.

RESIDENT

2021 MEMBERSHIPS

LENEXA REC CENTER MEMBERSHIP RATES

SEASON PASS Individual

$60

Household*

$110

Senior (60+)

$28

MIDSEASON PASS Individual

$30

Household*

$55

Senior (60+)

$14

CHILDREN 2 AND YOUNGER: FREE AT ALL POOLS

Learn more about Lenexa’s outdoor pools at Lenexa.com/Pools

*Max of five individuals at same address (ages 3+). **Price is per person added to an adult or senior membership, or for the sixth and up person on a household membership.

•

No initiation or application fees. Memberships can be canceled with 30 days’ notice. Scholarships available.

•

Kids 2 and under are free for memberships and passes.

GROUP X FITNESS CLASSES

The Lenexa Rec Center offers around 40 drop-in Group X fitness classes each week at a variety of times to fit your schedule and preferences. See the latest schedule at Lenexa.com/GroupX. • X Pass Members: Included with membership.

• Core Pass Members: One class: $6. 10-class punch card: $45. 20-class punch card: $45.

• Nonmembers: Day pass includes one class. Additional classes: $8 each.

PARKS & RECREATION FACILITIES IN THIS ISSUE Lenexa Community Center (CC) 13420 Oak St. • 913.477.7100 Mon.–Fri.: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Lenexa Rec Center (REC)

17201 W. 87th St. Pkwy. • 913.477.PLAY (7529) Mon.–Fri.: 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. • Sat.: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. • Sun: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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Drop-in Activities No registration is required for these recurring activities. Schedule is subject to change.

LENEXA COMMUNITY CENTER ACTIVITIES $1 UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

13420 OAK ST. / 913.477.7100 TIME

M

T

W

TH

AGES

•

Open Gym (8th grade & under): Parents and guardians welcome. Free.

3:30–5 p.m.

Open Gym (9th grade & over): Parents and guardians welcome. Free.

3:30–5 p.m.

•

Open Gym (Adult): Enjoy a game of basketball over your lunch break. Balls provided.

noon–1:30 p.m.

•

Pickleball: A low-impact, high-energy doubles racket sport that blends tennis, badminton and pingpong. $2.

noon–3:30 p.m.

•

18+

• •

8:30 a.m.–4 p.m.

11 a.m.–4 p.m.

Pingpong: All equipment provided.

F

•

11 a.m.–3 p.m.

•

16+

16+

•

LENEXA REC CENTER FREE FOR MEMBERS / $2 FOR NONMEMBERS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED Card and board games: Includes bridge, mahjong and dominos.

Pickleball: A low-impact, high-energy doubles racket sport that blends tennis, badminton and pingpong.

17201 W. 87TH ST. PKWY. / 913.477.7529 TIME

M

T

W

TH

F

AGES

9 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

•

•

•

•

•

55+

5 a.m.–8:30 p.m.

• •

•

•

5 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

•

5–8:30 a.m.

Splash With Me: Adult supervision required. Fee for child and guardian nonmembers.

KEEPING OUR ACTIVITIES SAFE

10–11:30 a.m.

all ages

•

•

•

•

•

5 & under

LEARN MORE AT LENEXA.COM/CORONAVIRUS

Lenexa follows all applicable state and county COVID-19 requirements for recreation programs and facilities.

Specific requirements regarding masks, class, size, etc., may vary depending on the program. Program instructors will inform all participants of requirements needed for each class. Please follow all facility guidelines and face covering code of conduct where applicable.

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RECREATION PROGRAM GUIDE

All Ages

Nintendo Switch Esports Tournaments (Ages 10+)

Jigsaw Puzzle Tournament

Puzzle lovers! Do you have what it takes to be the next Lenexa Puzzle Master? Form your own team of four or less and compete to see who can complete the same 500-piece puzzle the fastest. Time limit is two hours. First team will win a $50 prize; second team will win a $25 prize. Registration required. #506201 SU

2/21

2–4 p.m.

$40/team

Lenexa Public Market

SPORTS/FITNESS Karate (Ages 5+)

Progress through karate ranks in Shindo Jinen Ryu, a traditional Japanese karate style, by refining basic techniques, working on self-defense and learning competition-style kata. Additional fees for uniform and up to two tests per year. Unlimited classes for $55/session.

Upcoming sessions are Jan. 6–30, Feb. 3–27 and March 3–April 3. #501113 W

Ongoing

Beginner: 5:30 p.m..; Intermediate: 6:45 p.m.; Advanced: 7:30 p.m.

Fees above

REC

TH/F

Ongoing

Intermediate: 6:30 p.m.; Advanced: 7:30 p.m.

Fees above

REC

S

Ongoing

Beginner: 9 a.m.; Intermediate: 10 a.m.; Advanced: 11 a.m.

Fees above

REC

The Lenexa Rec Center is hosting two Nintendo Switch esports tournaments in January for Mario Cart and Super Smash Bros. Registration is required for each participant.

Tournaments will start with pool play, which will set the seeding. A short pre-tournament meeting will take place at 9:45 a.m. Lunch will be provided to all players, and the top three finishers will receive awards! #501138 M

1/4: Mario Kart

10 a.m.–5 p.m.

$12

REC

M

1/25: Super Smash Bros.

10 a.m.–5 p.m.

$12

REC

NEW: Shining Stars Intermediate Tumbling (Ages 7+)

Do you like being upside down most of the time? If so, this class may be the perfect fit for you! This actionpacked class will help you learn impressive tricks that will challenge your body in a fun and exciting way! Must be able to do a cartwheel, pushup backbend (bridge) and backbend spider-walk without assistance. #501107 TH

2/4–3/18

5–6 p.m.

$45

CC

NEW: Shining Stars Adult Ballet (Ages 18+)

If you want a fun way to stay in shape, ballet is the class for you! This class will be geared toward all levels and will provide you a creative way to achieve muscle tone without building bulk. No prior dance experience required. #501107 TH

2/4–3/18

7–8 p.m.

$45

RECREATION PROGRAM GUIDE

CC 31

Youth CLASSES Preschool Pals (Ages 3–5)

This program is designed for children to reach developmental milestones needed for kindergarten readiness. An emphasis is placed on nature, art and movement, while focusing on development through handson learning. Must be potty-trained. #5011003

ARTS/CRAFTS January: Sculpt. Create with no fear! Use collage, printmaking, sculpture, clay and other messy media to create two- and three-dimensional art.

March: Paint. Join a collision of color and master the methods of acrylic and watercolor painting. Practice the basics and explore the possibilities. #501201 W or TH

1/6–1/21

6–7 p.m.

$30

REC

W or TH

2/3–2/25

6–7 p.m.

$30

REC

W or TH

3/3–3/18

6–7 p.m.

$30

REC

CAMPS Kids Day Out (Kindergarten–6th Grade)

Looking for something for your child to do on non-school days? Drop your kids off for a full day of fun! Daily activities may include pickleball, dodgeball, outdoor interaction, cooking, STEAM and more. We may occasionally have field trips. #501401

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RECREATION PROGRAM GUIDE

9–11 a.m.

$12.50/day

REC

T/TH

2/2–2/25

9–11 a.m.

$12.50/day

REC

T/TH

3/2–4/1

9–11 a.m.

$12.50/day

REC

Shining Stars Dance (Ages 3–18)

February: Draw. Build basic drawing skills on various papers and surfaces. Try techniques and explore different media using pencils, pens, pastels and more!

$40/day

1/7–1/28

SPORTS/FITNESS

Art Classes (Ages 6–12)

Jan 4, 5, 18, 25; Feb. 5, 11, 12, 15, 16 7:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

T/TH

REC

Introduce your child to a variety of dance styles with Miss Tauna. In addition to instruction in tap, ballet, tumbling, acrobatics, jazz, hip hop, and leaps and turns, Shining Stars will help build self-confidence, respect for self and others, coordination of mind and body and much more!

Unlimited classes in child’s age range for $50/session.

Additional siblings receive 10% discount. Sessions are Jan. 5–30, Feb. 1–27 and March 3–April 3. #501106 Ages 3–5 M

Combo (3-year-olds only): 4:30–5:30 p.m.; Combo (4–5-year-olds): 5:30–6:30 p.m.

Fees above

CC

W

Combo: 3:30 -5:30 p.m.; 4:30–5:30 p.m.

Fees above

CC

S

Combo: 9–10 a.m.

Fees above

CC

M

Combo: 6:30–7:30 p.m.

Fees above

CC

T

Combo: 4:30–5:30 p.m.

Fees above

CC

W

Combo: 5:30–6:30 p.m.

Fees above

CC

S

Combo: 10–11 a.m.

Fees above

CC

Ages 6–8

Shining Stars Dance, continued Ages 9–11 T

Combo: 5:30–6:30 p.m.

Fees above

CC

W

Combo: 6:30–7:30 p.m.

Fees above

CC

S

Combo: 10–11 a.m.

Fees above

CC

M/T

Tap & Jazz: 7:30–8:30 p.m.; Advanced Practice (requires instructor approval): 8:30–8:50 p.m.

Fees above

CC

T

Ballet & Pointe: 6:30–7:30 p.m.

Fees above

CC

S

Tap & Jazz: 11 a.m.–noon

Fees above

CC

Ages 12–18

Tot Basketball League (Ages 5–8)

Get your kids out of the house this winter for some fun basketball action! This recreational co-ed league will be parent-coach led. Each game starts with a 25-minute practice, followed by a 40--minute game. All equipment is provided, along with a team T-shirt to keep. #501128

Aquatics

Volunteer coaches needed. Parents who coach will receive 20% off their child(ren)’s registration fees. Must attend mandatory coaches meeting. If you are interested or have questions, contact Jeremy Reimer, jreimer@lenexa.com.

Diving Lessons: Platform (Ages 10–17)

T

1/5–2/16

Ages 5–6: 5:45–6:45 p.m.

Ages 7–8: 7–8 p.m.

$50

CC

Youth Tennis Lessons (Ages 6–13)

Whether your child is new to the sport or looking to improve their play, these group tennis lessons with certified instructor Dan Wellington will take them to the next level. It is recommended that participants bring their own rackets; all other equipment provided. #501110 W

2/3–2/24

5:30–6:30 p.m.

$90

CC

W

3/3–3/24

5:30–6:30 p.m.

$90

CC

Get acquainted with basic diving skills, both on land and platform. Must be able to perform basic diving skills and a front or back flip off a diving board. #504612 M/W

2/2–2/25

6–6:40 p.m.

$55/Members: $50

REC

M/W

3/9–4/1

6–6:40 p.m.

$55/Members: $50

REC

Private Swim Lessons (Youth and Adults)

The instructor will create a program to help the student(s) reach their personalized swimming goals. Semiprivate lessons are available for two participants who are at a similar swimming level. Lessons are offered on Sunday mornings and Monday–Wednesday evenings.

Private lesson rates for four half-hour sessions: $100/ members, $108/nonmembers. Semiprivate lesson rates for four half-hour sessions (price is per person): $70/members, $76/nonmembers.

LEARN A FUN LIFESAVING SKILL: AMERICAN RED CROSS GROUP SWIM LESSONS

OPEN SWIM AT OUR INDOOR POOL Looking for a fun way to spend winter days when school’s not in session? The Lenexa Rec Center pool will have open swim from noon to 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 1, 4, 18 and 25 and Feb. 15–16. Rec Center members swim for free. Nonmembers must purchase a day pass or punch card: see page 29 for rates.

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Lenexa offers AMERICAN RED CROSS SWIM LESSONS at a variety of skill levels. All group indoor swim and dive lessons are held at the Lenexa Rec Center. Rates are $50 for Rec Center members and $55 for nonmembers.

Tuesday/Thursday evening lessons will be offered Feb. 2–25 (enrollment opens Jan. 11) and March 9–April 1 (enrollment opens Feb. 15).

Saturday morning lessons will be offered March 13–May 8 (enrollment opens Feb. 15).

Parent/Child (Ages 6 months–3 years)

The purpose of this course is to foster a high comfort level in the water for very young children while at the same time training parents and caregivers in water safety and drowning prevention. #504598

Toddler (Ages 3+)

Your child will become acquainted with the water and basic water skills using songs and games. #504599

Preschool 1 (Ages 4–5)

Your child will become acquainted with the water and basic water skills. #504600

Adult NATURE/OUTDOORS Coffee, Walk & Talk

Join other Lenexa residents to walk on local trails. Walk about 2 miles at a leisurely pace, then enjoy a cup of coffee at a local coffee shop. #503301 T

January: Little Mill Creek North Park (79th and Cottonwood)

9 a.m. Free, plus cost of coffee

Student must be able to float on front and back and put head under water. #504600

T

February: Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park

9 a.m. Free, plus cost of coffee

Preschool 3 (Ages 4–5)

T

March: Shawnee Mission Park

9 a.m. Free, plus cost of coffee

Preschool 2 (Ages 4–5)

Student must be comfortable swimming front stroke and swimming on their back. #504600

Level 1 (Ages 6+)

Students learn the basics of swimming. #504601

Level 2 (Ages 6+)

Student must willingly submerge and float on their front and back with assistance. #504602

Level 3 (Ages 6+)

Student must float, glide and swim a basic stroke on their front and back independently. #504603

Level 4 (Ages 8+)

Student must front crawl, freestyle, swim on back, swim using the breaststroke kick and dive from a sitting or kneeling position. #504604

Level 5 (Ages 8+)

Student must swim breaststroke, sidestroke, backstroke, butterfly, tread water and dive. #504605

Level 6 (Ages 8+)

Student must swim continuously using a variety of strokes, turns and survival skills. #504606 34

RECREATION PROGRAM GUIDE

SPORTS/FITNESS 21-Day Jump Start (Ages 16+)

The 21-Day Jump Start Program is a great way to make your personal best a priority at the start of a new year.

Program participants will receive a punch card for all fitness classes, and two small group training sessions will be available each week. #502012 T/TH

1/5–1/28

6–7 p.m.

$125

REC

Shining Stars Adult Tap (Ages 18+)

Tap dancing is a lively and entertaining dance form that can help you increase strength, flexibility and coordination while lowering your stress levels. All levels welcome.

Unlimited classes for $44/month. Upcoming sessions: Jan. 5–28, Feb. 2–25 and March 2–April 1. #502112 T/TH

Ongoing

11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Fees above

CC

W

Ongoing

7:30–8:30 p.m.

Fees above

CC

Virtual Class Pass (Ages 18+)

Not ready to return to the gym or just running short on time? The Lenexa Rec Center offers more than a dozen virtual group fitness classes each week via Zoom. A camera is set up in our fitness studios, so you can join in the class wherever you are, get live feedback from instructors and feel the energy from other participants to stay motivated and consistent. See the current schedule of virtual classes at Lenexa.com/GroupX. The pass is only active during the month for which it is purchased. Get your pass before the first day of the month to access the greatest number of classes. #502162 M–S

Ongoing

5:30 a.m.– 7 p.m.

$25/month for Core Pass members and nonmembers; free for X Pass members

Online

EXPLORE OUR VIRTUAL FITNESS OPTIONS!

Virtual Small Group Training (Ages 16+)

Are you looking for accountability to a group to stay committed to your fitness goals, but not ready to come back to the gym? This group workout is designed to help you stay focused on your goals from the comfort of your own home. All virtual small groups will be held on Zoom. #502160 T/TH

2/4–2/25

noon to 1 p.m. or 5–6 p.m.

$125

Online

M/W

3/2–3/24

5–6 p.m.

$125

Online

SENIOR MEAL PICKUP PROGRAM Johnson County Nutrition Services provides hot meals for pickup at the Senior Center, 13425 Walnut St., for people age 60 and up. Call 913.888.6141 between 9 and 10 a.m. the day before to request a meal. Meals can be picked up on weekdays from 11 a.m. to noon at the north driveway entrance. Suggested donation: $3.

Senior

The Lenexa Senior Center remains closed due to COVID-19 precautions. As a result, the indoor congregate meal program will not be offered until further notice.

FITNESS/SPORTS Chair Yoga (Ages 55+)

This practice is experienced seated on a chair and using the chair for support while standing. Students will be given guidance and encouraged to do what’s best for their needs. Benefits can include improved breathing capacity, muscle endurance, flexibility, balance and overall sense of feeling good. All levels welcome. #503104 W/F

Ongoing

9–10 a.m.

$40/10-class card

CC

Senior Pep Fitness (Ages 55+)

Get energized and gain cardiovascular endurance, flexibility and strength! This upbeat exercise program will help you achieve your health goals. All fitness levels welcome. Join any time. #503103 T/TH

Ongoing

9:30–10:30 a.m.

$35/10-class card

CC

ARTS/CRAFTS Hooked on Books (Ages 55+)

Attention book lovers! Join us each month to discuss a new book. Members choose the books and facilitate discussions. This program is currently meeting online via Zoom. Call 913.477.7134 to register. #503201 TH

1/28: “The Day the World Came to Town” by Jim DeFede

1–2 p.m.

Free

TH

2/25: “Pachinko” by Min Jin Lee

1–2 p.m.

Free

TH

3/25: “Giver of Stars” by JoJo Moyes

1–2 p.m.

Free

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PRSRT  MKTG U.S. Postage P A I D Kansas City, MO Permit No. 32

17101 W. 87th St. Pkwy.

Lenexa, KS 66219

CITY OFFICIALS Mayor Mike Boehm

City Manager Beccy Yocham

City Council Ward 1 Joe Karlin Courtney Eiterich

City Council Ward 3 Dan Roh Corey Hunt

City Council Ward 2 Tom Nolte Bill Nicks

City Council Ward 4 Mandy Stuke Julie Sayers

Lenexa is an equal housing community.

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