Peace Pavilion has a New Home

2016: Planning begins for a new home for what then was known as the Children’s Peace Pavilion, a Community of Christ affiliate in the Auditorium.

2017: PeacePathways takes possession of the building at 607 W. Lexington Avenue, Independence, Missouri, USA, and begins converting its 15,300 square feet. It’s more than seven times the space the Children’s Peace Pavilion had in the Auditorium. The pavilion, though an affiliate and not a program of Community of Christ, experienced some limitations to serving public schools and some organizations because of its location in a church facility. The new location presents no such issues. A capital campaign begins.

2018: Rehab of the building begins in earnest. As remodeling continued, projects completed included: • Opening doorways, removing walls • Expanded and updated exhibits • Cleaning/painting/carpeting • Resurfacing parking lot • New roof • New heating/air-conditioning system • Exterior brick work • Removal of playground equipment and construction of patio area • Exterior murals and signs • Creation of rental space

2022: Fundraising completed. Goals were met with gifts from individuals, organizations, and significant foundation grants. A grand opening was November 11, and a ribboncutting event was November 18.

The Peace Pavilion’s new home is at 607 W. Lexington, Independence, Missouri, USA.

Opening a New Pathway to Peace

Relocated pavilion expands offerings, programs.

By Elaine Garrison, Communications

Community of Christ members gathered twenty-seven years ago, praying and pondering how to spread the concept and skills of peace to the next generation. The Children’s Peace Pavilion, located in a well-known section of the Auditorium on the Independence, Missouri, USA, campus, sprang from those efforts.

Over the years, thousands of families, school classes, and community groups visited the exhibits in what technically was a children’s museum. To reach more people with the message of peace, a larger, more flexible home has been established near the intersection of Lexington Avenue and Temple Drive, a few steps from the Temple.

“We took the same concepts [used at the Auditorium] and expanded on that” said Andy Kroesen, PeacePathways executive director. “Some school districts didn’t want to send their students to a church building for a school field trip. … They’re still the same [peace] concepts. We’re still doing the same things. But now we’re in a neutral setting.”

The original section of the new Peace Pavilion building, recognizable by its arched roof, was constructed in the 1940s and was a Ford dealership. In an alcove off a hallway is a dumbwaiter from the era. It served an upper floor, where parts were stored.

More construction in the 1970s created offices, a cafeteria/kitchen area,

classrooms, bathrooms, and otherwise rehabbed the building that became the Sunshine Center. Operated by a nonprofit and funded by Jackson County, the building first served special-needs preschool students and then any young student. Sunshine Center has a new home on East Salisbury Road and became part of the Independence School District. The building sat empty for several years before it became PeacePathways’s property. Several hurdles awaited officials when they got the keys from Independence Square developer Ken McClain. PeacePathways now owns the building.

Because nearly each room in the former special-needs school was a classroom, each had a bathroom—eighteen in all. Some toilets were removed (there are still plenty of bathrooms), walls taken down, and doorways added.

Andy Kroesen, Ed Gensler, Marla and Dale Blevins, Roxy and Steve Kellogg, Andi and Jim Melham, and others re-created and enlarged the exhibits from the Auditorium.

Along with the executive director, five part-time positions and dozens of volunteers will staff the Pavilion to continue visits focused on the four concepts: Peace for Me, Peace for Us, Peace for the World, and Peace for the Planet.

The new Peace Pavilion is close to the Temple, Auditorium, and other Restoration sites, in addition to local Independence attractions. It is anticipated that post-COVID visits to all those areas will increase. The new visibility of the Peace Pavilion will attract many new visitors.

In April, a major donation was received from the Fremont Congregation in California, USA, and the Sierra Pacific Mission Center after the sale of some property. This was done in the name of Diane Barnett, director of the Fremont Children’s Peace Pavilion. She died before the sale, and had been a constant supporter of the Peace Pavilion in Independence.

“That was an unknown gift that came in. Their decision to do that has made it possible for this facility to be in the [nearly finished] condition it’s in now,” said Cathi CacklerVeazey, chair of the PeacePathways board.

The gift allowed completion of several improvements that otherwise would have been delayed.

OTHER DONORS • Sunderland Foundation,

Kansas City, Missouri, USA • Rotary Club of Independence,

Missouri, USA. The club donated funds, and members worked on projects the club funded. • Several community groups, church organizations, and individuals

NEEDED Docents, volunteers, donations! For more information, contact Andy Kroesen, PeacePathways executive director, at thepeacepavilion@gmail.com.

COME TO THE PEACE PAVILION

Tuesday, Wednesday: Open to schools, other groups ($4.00 USD per person/child for groups of ten or more). This schedule is busiest during the school year.

Thursday, Friday, Saturday: Open to the public 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ($7.00 USD per person/child). Walk-in traffic is more common in the summer.

Rent a space for parties, meet-

ings: The former cafeteria has been painted and includes a freestanding stage. An outdoor picnic area also is available for rent.

PeacePathways is a nonprofit affiliate of Community of Christ.

OUR MISSION

Pursue Peace on Earth

We are called to restore Christ’s covenant of peace, even the Zion of our hopes. The hope of Zion will become reality when we live Christ’s peace and generously share his peace with others.

Expanded and updated exhibits are ready for visitors, including Peace for Me.

Andy Kroesen is quick to point to a name change: Peace Pavilion, not the former Children’s Peace Pavilion. The plan calls for extending programs to adults and teenagers. Rooms have been designated for those older visitors, and programs are being planned. President Steve Veazey emphasized the reason for the pavilion: “At the center of our church A ribbon-cutting ceremony was November seal is the image of a child above 18 at the Peace Pavilion. Family members of the late Diane Barnett did the honors. A the word Peace. This is a symbolic major donation for work done on the build- depiction of Isaiah’s vision of a ing was made in her name. coming time of peace in which the From left were Roxy Kellogg, board member/ exhibit planner; Kent Barnett, Diane Barnett’s lion and the lamb will lie down husband; Lori Barnett, daughter-in-law; Andy together, and a little child shall Kroesen, executive director for PeacePathways and the Peace Pavilion. Others present lead them (Isaiah 11:6). were pavilion board members, volunteers, “The Peace Pavilion is dedicommittee members, donors, general supporters, Community of Christ officials, Inde- cated to preparing peacemakers of pendence Rotary Club officers and members. all ages, beginning with children and youth, to help fulfill God’s vision of peace on earth. This cause is worthy of everything we can do to support it!”

As the interview concluded, a brief crash was heard down the hall from Andy Kroesen’s office. Cooper Cackler, the three-year-old grandson of Cathi Cackler-Veazey and President Steve Veazey, was playing a few steps away.

“He’s our strength tester,” Cathi CacklerVeazey said with a smile. Cooper has done a thorough job. Vivid colors and kid-size storefronts, plus a Star Wars reference, are part of Peace for Us.