JUNE 2015 • ISSUE THREE
CIVIC CENTER GROUNDBREAKING Come celebrate with us!
#JocoGateway construction continues
Do you Like Lenexa? DOWNLOAD our app
TownTalk
Enjoy the new Town Talk
June 2015 • Issue Three Mayor Mike Boehm
City Administrator Eric Wade
Council Members Ward 1 Joe Karlin Steve Lemons
Ward 3 Amy Slater Lou Serrone
Ward 2 Diane Linver Tom Nolte
Ward 4 Mandy Stuke Andy Huckaba
Lenexa is an equal housing community
City Facilities City Hall 913.477.7500 • 12350 W. 87th St. Pkwy. Police Department 913.477.7300 (non-emergency) 12500 W. 87th St. Pkwy. Community Center 913.477.7100 • 13420 Oak St. Senior Center 913.477.7105 • 13425 Walnut St.
Welcome to the new Town Talk! You may have noticed things look a little different. We’ve made some changes to our community newsletter in hopes of providing more and better information to you, the residents. Town Talk has been an integral pipeline of information in Lenexa for many years. It’s where we, as a city, have the opportunity to let you know what’s going on in the community – whether it’s community events, financial information, accomplishments in public safety, or accolades we’ve received. The publication has evolved over the years from a black-and white newsletter comprised of mostly words, to the design you’re seeing now. We did not make this change lightly – staff had many conversations about the function of Town Talk and how best to serve our residents. We consistently hear how much you enjoy reading Town Talk, and our goal with the new design was to freshen up the publication while keeping a nod to its roots. Prior to this issue, Town Talk existed in the same format for nearly 15 years, but as our community grows, we know that we need to grow with it. We discovered there was much more to tell you about Lenexa than could fit in four pages every other month. So, we’ve included several new features that we hope will be helpful to you: • An eight-page layout that allows us to tell more stories and give you more detailed information
Fire Department 913.888.6380 (non-emergency) 9620 Pflumm Road
• More photos, so you can see great images of you and your neighbors being involved in the city and attending Lenexa festivals
Municipal Court 913.477.7600 • 12400 W. 87th St. Pkwy.
• Access to commonly used phone numbers and addresses in the city
Lenexa Town Talk is published six times a year by the City of Lenexa for its residents. Please direct questions or comments to the Communications Division by sending an email to communications@lenexa.com.
We hope these features, combined with our renewed commitment to making Town Talk the publication you can count on for important, relevant information about Lenexa, will be valuable to you. Enjoy the new layout and expanded information in this issue. Have feedback about the changes? We’d love to hear what you think. Send an email to communications@lenexa.com.
www.lenexa.com/towntalk
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You will see these symbols throughout Town Talk. Simply scan them with your smartphone QR reader for additional content, such as the ability to add an event to your calendar, or read more about a program.
Join us in celebrating the future Lenexa Civic Center Project Civic Center Groundbreaking June 12, 4:30 p.m. SW corner of 87th & Penrose Lane
In just under two years, Lenexa residents will be able to experience one of the best civic campuses in the region: The Lenexa Civic Center Project. The city is scheduled to break ground on this project on June 12, and you are invited to attend this momentous celebration. Come learn about the city’s plans for a community recreation center and new City Hall at the corner of 87th Street Parkway and Penrose Lane. The excitement begins at 4:30 p.m. The civic campus is scheduled to open in late 2017 and
Food Truck Frenzy • June 12 5 to 8 p.m. • 87th & Penrose Lane Even if you can’t join us for the Civic Center Project groundbreaking, come out to City Center for our spring Food Truck Frenzy. Grab a bite to eat, visit with friends and enjoy the atmosphere in Lenexa’s new downtown. The event is scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. Free parking is available along the street and in designated, signed areas.
will feature two buildings and a parking garage for easy access. The community recreation center will include an indoor pool and water slides, a walking track, multi-use gymnasiums, and a fitness center, among many other amenities. In addition to housing several city offices, the City Hall building will also feature a ground-floor public market, space for higher education partners, and an indoor amphitheater/city council chambers.
Food trucks scheduled to be in attendance include:
Find more information about the project at Lenexa.com/CivicCenter.
Links to the food trucks’ websites are available at Lenexa.com/FoodTruckFrenzy.
• Beauty of the Bistro • The Cajun Cabin • The Funnel Cake Truck • Indios Carbonsitos • Jazzy B’s • Monk’s Roast Beef • Plantain District • Wilma’s Real Good Food
Why I Like Lenexa art contest winners In April and May, we put out a call to Lenexa families with kids to enter the “Why I Like Lenexa” art contest. These kids drew their favorite parts about living in Lenexa, and needless to say, the entries we received were fantastic! We chose 13 winners who will be part of the Civic Center Project groundbreaking in June 12. Congratulations to the winners! They are:
Kristen Strathman, age 11
• Anya Lewczenko, age 5
• Katelyn Kuckelman, age 9
• Wesley Millard, age 5
• Drew Langstraat, age 9
• Vivian Zheng, age 5
• Sydney Lanham, age 9
• Serena Rendon, age 6
• Seth Pento, age 9
• Erica Strathman, age 7
• Isabel Semadeni, age 10
• Stella Rose Ho, age 8
• Kristen Strathman, age 11
• Mackenzie Farkes, age 8
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Connecting with your community
I LIKE LENEXA APP Looking for a way to get more involved in your community? Excited to find parks you haven’t been to? Want to beat your friends to the top of the leader board? Then, the I Like Lenexa App is for you! Residents, visitors, and anyone else who “Likes Lenexa” can download the I Like Lenexa App for free from the iOS App Store or for Android on Google Play. Once you download it, you will have access to information about events, parks, pools and playgrounds – all in one app. Festivals & Events: Click on any event to learn more about it, and check in to earn achievement points. For more information about downloading the I Like Lenexa app, visit Lenexa.com/ILikeLenexa or watch for banners at Lenexa festivals. Staff will be on hand to answer questions about the app, and you’ll have the opportunity to immediately win Lenexa-themed prizes!
Parks: Look at photos and learn about the various amenities in each of Lenexa’s parks. Check in to earn achievement points. Pools: View each pool’s schedule modifications and find a listing of pool amenities. Check in to earn achievement points. Playground Passport: Visit each of Lenexa’s playgrounds to solve the Playground Passport puzzle. Check in to earn achievement points. Weather: Check on Lenexa’s weather outlook for the next several days. Achievements: Complete tasks to earn achievements and points, and cash those points in for Lenexa-themed prizes. Search for achievements in various categories, or check the leaderboard to see how you compare. News: Stay up-to-date on the latest announcements about Lenexa.
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Mark your calendar: Fun summer events GREAT LENEXA BBQ BATTLE June 26: 4:30 to 11 p.m.; June 27: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 185 teams converge on Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park for this annual event. Friday admission: $5 (kids 12 and under: free); Saturday: Free. Lenexa.com/BBQ.
FREEDOM RUN July 4: 7 a.m., Old Town Lenexa Start your Independence Day with a morning run through Old Town. Cost: $25/person pre-registered or $30/person on race day. Lenexa.com/FreedomRun.
COMMUNITY DAYS PARADE July 4: 10 a.m., Old Town Lenexa Stick around Old Town for our oldfashioned parade filled with classic cars, music and more! Free. Parade route map available online at Lenexa.com/Parade.
TAILS ON THE TRAILS Aug. 15: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Ad Astra Pool & Park Let your dog enjoy a dip in the pool or a performance in the pet talent show. Cost: $5 per swim pre-registered/$8 day-of. More information at Lenexa.com/Tails.
POOL FACILITIES OPEN FOR THE SUMMER Grab your bathing suit – it’s pool season! Enjoy the warm summertime sun with a dip in one of Lenexa’s three aquatic facilities: • Ad Astra Pool: 83rd & Maurer. Hours - noon to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays. Admission is $5 resident/$7 non-resident. 913.492.7946. • Flat Rock Creek Pool: 103rd & Hauser. Hours – daily noon to 8 p.m. Admission is $5 resident/$7 non-resident. 913.888.3202. • Indian Trails Aquatic Center: 87th & Greenway Lane. Hours – daily noon to 8 p.m. Admission is $6 resident/$8 non-resident. 913.888.4659. Renew your pool pass online or in person, or get a new pass at the Lenexa Community Center. Family pass: $110 resident/$175 nonresident; Individual: $60/$95; Senior citizens: $28/$35. More information about Lenexa’s aquatic facilities and programming is available at Lenexa.com/pools.
NEW NAME. NEW TIME. NEW ROUTE. July 18: 10 p.m., Old Town Lenexa After a year hiatus, the Moonlight Bike Ride is back! This familyfriendly event will take bicyclists through a nine-mile closed-course route from Old Town Lenexa down 95th Street and through the Meritex caves. The ride begins at 10 p.m. at Santa Fe Trail Drive & Pflumm Road. Cost: $20 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under on or before June 26; $25 for adults and $20 for children after June 26. Online registration is available a Lenexa.com/BikeRide.
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Visible Addresses
Placement and color make a huge difference in the visibility of house addresses.
The ability to see your house address from the street curb is very important. Should you have an emergency, police and fire personnel look for the addresses to ensure they are at the right home when responding. Help us help you by making these as visible as possible. City code requires that numbers be at least 4 inches and displayed in a contrasting color. Please keep in mind that the further your house sits from the curb, the harder those numbers can be to see. Portable Storage Containers Temporary storage containers are becoming popular for a variety of uses in Lenexa’s residential neighborhoods. Please know that city ordinance permits such containers for 30 days on the driveway. These containers are not intended to provide longterm additional storage space.
QUICKTIPS: VISIBLE ADDRESSES & PORTABLE STORAGE CONTAINERS
TRASH DAY REMINDERS • One free curbside bulky item pickup can be scheduled by calling your trash hauler. Each hauler is required to provide one pickup per address per year. • Fall Dumpster Days are planned for Oct. 10-11 at the Lenexa Municipal Services Center, 7700 Cottonwood. • Remember: After your trash has been picked up, please pull your trash carts behind the front line of your house.
SIGN UP TEENS FOR YOUTH POLICE ACADEMY Want your teen to have a fun, educational and free summer experience? Sign them up for the Lenexa Youth Police Academy! Youth ages 13-17 are invited to participate in a weeklong program to learn what police work is really like. The Lenexa Youth Police Academy teaches students about the vital role law enforcement plays in our community. Participants will be treated to a “behind the scenes” look at the Lenexa Police Department while also getting a hands-on experience of policing. Interested? Very limited space is available in the Aug. 3-7 session. Fill out the application online at LPDYouthAcademy.com to be considered. Applicants will be added to a waiting list once capacity is reached.
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LENEXA ARTS COUNCIL SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
Four Lenexa student artists were honored recently with arts scholarships from the Lenexa Arts Council. Each year, the Arts Council awards scholarships in two categories to Lenexa students who excel in art to help them pursue their college education. This year’s recipients are: Performing Arts: Olivia Adams, Saint James Academy, $1,000; Dakota Hoar, Olathe Northwest, $500. Visual Arts: Robert Coyan, Shawnee Mission Northwest, $1,000; Ross Siegle, Shawnee Mission West, $500.
PMP: Taking care of city streets Just like giving a car a regular tune-up to keep it in good running order, the city does preventative maintenance to extend the life of its streets, sidewalks and trails. Lenexa’s latest citizen survey showed that maintaining city streets is your top priority. In 2014, the Governing Body approved a mill levy increase to support additional road construction and maintenance. This year, the city will invest approximately $4.6 million in roadway maintenance though its
Pavement Management Program (PMP) to ensure Lenexa’s infrastructure is safe and in good condition. Here’s a list of planned maintenance projects for the year. The majority of the work should be complete by late August. Major projects are listed below. To see a map of neighborhood and industrial projects and check on the status, visit lenexapavement. com or contact Pavement Asset Management Technician Stephen Mustain at 913.515.9742.
Street
Area
Type of work
79th Street
Quivira Road to Pflumm Road
mill & overlay; spot concrete curb replacements
Santa Fe Trail Drive
87th Street to Noland Road
ultra-thin bonded asphalt
Santa Fe Trail Drive
95th Street south to city limits
mill and overlay
Prairie Star Parkway
Ridgeview Road to Falcon Valley Drive
ultra-thin bonded asphalt
Community Outreach: Coffee with Cops Have an important question for one of our police officers? Or just want to sit and chat for a bit? The Lenexa Police Department’s Coffee with Cops/ Pop with a Cop community outreach program is the perfect place to do it. Each month, LPD officers will be available to talk with residents and answer questions in a casual environment during the Coffee/Pop with Cops sessions. These conversations give our officers great insight into what’s important to residents. Check the city’s calendar online at Lenexa.com for the date and location of our next event!
UPDATE: JOHNSON COUNTY GATEWAY WORK Drivers traveling I-435 and I-35 will see major road closures in the near future. New twolane flyover bridge ramps are being constructed where I-435 crosses I-35 to improve traffic flow at the interchange. To do so, steel bridge girders need to be placed over each highway, requiring full closures of I-435 and I-35 over four weekends this summer (two for I-435 and two for I-35). The closures will occur near the interchange, and detours will be provided and will be available online at JoCoGateway.com. As final dates are set, detailed information will be sent out to the public via all available channels, including My Lenexa News. Sign up to receive alerts at Lenexa.com/enews. Additional work is occurring throughout the area. Renner Boulevard at K-10 and the eastbound ramps for K-10 will remain closed through late summer 2015. This work (pictured above) will improve traffic flow on Renner Boulevard and accommodate the new eastbound collector-distributor roads carrying traffic to I-35 and northbound I-435.
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PRSRT  STD U.S. Postage P A I D Kansas City, MO Permit No. 32
12350 W. 87th St. Pkwy. Lenexa, KS 66215
Seen in Lenexa
Lenexa Outdoor Concert Series
Lenexa Art Fair Want your photo featured? Tag it on social media with #SeeLenexa, and it could appear on the back of Town Talk!
tographer Bill Harrison
Art Fair Photos by volunteer pho