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Parks 'n Play eNews
A monthly update from Kansas City, Missouri
Parks and Recreation
MASTHEAD IMAGE: The 31st Annual Ethnic Enrichment Festival, August 20-22 in Swope Park, features food and culture from more than 60 countries. Photo by Ives Images. |
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 Feel the World Beat in the Heart of America
The Ethnic Enrichment Commission of Kansas City, Missouri presents the 31st Annual Ethnic Enrichment Festival in Swope Park August 20-22. The event, one of the largest and longest-running of its kind, annually attracts more than 35,000 visitors.
Festival hours are: Friday, August 20, 6:00-10:00pm; Saturday, August 21, Noon-10:00pm; and Sunday, August 22, Noon-6:00pm. Adult admission is $3.00 and children 12 and under are free. The festival is located at the Swope Park bandstand, near the park's main gate at Meyer & Swope Parkway. Parking is free. Pets are not allowed.
The 2010 festival features food, crafts and culture from 62 countries. Each country hosts a booth that displays and sells authentic food, artifacts and crafts from their respective country. The festival also has a Beer Garden offering domestic and imported beer selections from around the world.
This year's festival also features a Kids' World with creative fun and cultural activities that include coin rubbings, learning how a bagpipe works, various ethnic crafts and more. Kids' World is open on Friday from 4:30-8:30pm; Saturday from Noon-7:30pm (closed during the Parade of Flags from 4:00-5:30pm); and open on Sunday from 12:30-5:30pm (closed during the Fashion Show from 1:30-2:30pm). Activities take place in 30 minute increments beginning on the hour and half hour.
Stage entertainment includes performances by a different ethnic group every 30 minutes and the traditional and majestic Parade of Flags that begins at 4:00pm on Saturday afternoon. For a complete schedule of stage entertainment, download a festival flyer.
Sponsors of the 2010 festival include: Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation, City of Kansas City, Missouri Neighborhood Tourism Development Fund, Kansas City Power & Light, KCUR Radio, Time Warner Cable, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Kansas City, NBC Action News, Commerce Bank, and the Missouri Arts Council. |
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KC Parks Implements Mentorship Program
Kansas City Parks and Recreation recently introduced a mentorship initiative designed to afford interested minority- and women-owned businesses exposure to increased opportunities by creating working relationships with Parks and Recreation employees and other business persons in the area.
"We recognize the importance and long-term benefits of using Minority Business Enterprises and Women Business Enterprises in the maintenance and continued evolution of our system," says Board President John Fierro. "Our management team is committed to creating a program that is designed to educate, develop, and economically empower MWBEs. "
Eleven companies/individuals have signed up to participate in the program. Each participant is assigned to one Parks and Recreation staff person who will serve as their mentor.
 Mentors will meet with participants quarterly to facilitate opportunities and create productive business relationships. Activities of the program will include hosting lunch time "meet and greet" for the participants to meet with majority businesses that have a historic working relationship with the City as well as having participants accompany Parks and Recreation staff to networking events in order to further the opportunities for creating business relationships.
Parks and Recreation staff will also facilitate training sessions for the participants to address issues which may be specific to public contracts and will provide tours of Parks and Recreation facilities.
"We anticipate many benefits for those participating in the mentorship program," says Board Commissioner Ajamu Webster, "including developing a better understanding of City contracting requirements, exposure and access to City resources and expertise, and opportunities to enhance business strength and skills." |
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Shoal Creek Golf Course Recognized for Environmental Excellence
 The Shoal Creek Golf Course, NE 89th St. & Shoal Creek Parkway, has achieved designation as a "Certified Audubon Sanctuary" through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, an Audubon International program. Duane Sander, course superintendent, led the effort to obtain sanctuary status on the course and was also recognized for Environmental Stewardship by Audubon International. Shoal Creek is the ninth course in Missouri and the 775th in the world to receive this honor.
"Shoal Creek Golf Course has shown a strong commitment to its environmental program. They are to be commended for their efforts to provide a sanctuary for wildlife on the golf course property," said Jim Sluiter, staff ecologist for the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Programs.
"To reach certification, a course must demonstrate that they are maintaining a high degree of environmental quality in a number of areas," explains Sluiter. These categories include: Environmental Planning, Wildlife & Habitat Management, Outreach and Education, Chemical Use Reduction and Safety, Water Conservation, and Water Quality Management.
The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, endorsed by the United State Golf Association, provides information and guidance to help golf courses preserve and enhance wildlife habitat, and protect natural resources. Golf courses from the United States, Africa, Australia, Canada, Central American, Europe, and Southeast Asia have also achieved certification. For more information visit www.auduboninternational.org.
Shoal Creek Golf Course is owned by KCMO Parks and Recreation and operated by Kemper Sports Management. Both parties are committed to insuring that Shoal Creek maintains this certification for many years to come. |
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Honor Those Who Served Our Country: Black Veterans Memorial
 A group of local businessmen, known as The Enshriners, have contributed funds toward the construction of a memorial to African-American military veterans to be located in the median of The Paseo, from The Terrace at 12th Street to 11th Street. The Black Veterans Memorial will be dedicated at a ceremony on Sunday, September 12 at 5:00pm. The event is free and open to the public.
The Enshriners have sponsored many different events in Kansas City, Missouri. Under the leadership of former Parks and Recreation Commissioner, Ollie W. Gates, the citizens and the City have benefited from this group of interested men. Among the events and attractions that have been touched significantly are the Spirit of Freedom Fountain, Satchel Paige Stadium, Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center, Arrington "Bubble" Klice Memorial, Heart of America Junior Golf Academy and, now, the Black Veterans Memorial.
At the north end of the site a polished granite monument will commemorate the service of black veterans throughout United States history.
At the south end of the site, above the retaining wall of The Terrace, a large US flag will fly atop a 50' pole set in a granite base.A wide sidewalk down the center of the block will link the monument to the flagpole, and will be lined with benches and ornamental lights. This Plaza space will be flanked on each side with a row of new oak trees, the US national tree.
In the middle of the walk a 4'-wide panel will be filled out with dedicatory granite pavers, etched with the names of veterans and/or military units. These pavers are available for purchase to assist with the maintenance of the Plaza as well as offering veterans, friends and family the opportunity to honor the soldiers who fought valiantly for our nation. The Black Veterans Memorial is a partnership between The Enshriners and KCMO Parks and Recreation. For more information, contact Karmen Bradley at 816-513-7503 or karmen_bradley@kcmo.org. |
Original Broadway Cast Members to Headline Starlight's The Producers
Brad Oscar as Max Bialystock | Fresh off the national tour of the musical Young Frankenstein, two of Broadway's funniest leading men will soon take the Starlight Theatre stage to reprise roles they know quite well. Original cast members of the 2001 Broadway production of The Producers that took home a record 12 Tony Awards®, Brad Oscar and Roger Bart, bring true star power to the roles of Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom, respectively, in Starlight's production of the Mel Brooks' smash-hit comedy. The show runs at Starlight on August 23-29.
Denton Yockey, Starlight president and executive producer, reports that Oscar and Bart began rehearsals at Starlight last Thursday along with 22 other cast members, including five local performers. They're seeing some familiar faces in the cast since three ensemble members - Jennifer Lee Crowl, Shauna Hoskin and Lara Seibert - were with them on the Young Frankenstein tour, and ensemble member Naomi Kakuk was in the original Broadway cast and film as well.
On Broadway, Oscar originated the role of nutty neo-Nazi playwright Franz Liebkind, earning a 2001 Tony nomination for his work. Likewise, Bart earned a Tony nomination for his portrayal of fussy assistant Carmen Ghia. The Broadway company's original leading men, Nathan Lane as Max and Matthew Broderick as Leo, vacated their roles in March 2002 (later returning for a limited engagement in 2004). Later, Oscar and Bart moved into the Max and Leo roles and played them hundreds of times during the musical's six-year Broadway run. Oscar has also played Max in productions of The Producers in London's West End, Las Vegas and on national tours.
An interesting side note: Bart actually is returning to the Starlight stage, 22 years after his first visit. He played the role of Annas in Starlight's production of Jesus Christ Superstar in 1988.
"Starlight audiences are definitely in for a treat!" Yockey said. "Not only do we have two big-name stars of Broadway, film and television leading a very talented professional cast, we will deliver a first-class, high-energy production. I consider The Producers almost a throwback to the days of vaudeville - with a 21st century twist." The Producers is the fourth production of Starlight Theatre's 60th anniversary Broadway season and the only musical locally produced at Starlight this summer.
Based on the original 1968 Mel Brooks movie of the same name, The Producers stage production is set in 1959 New York. It follows the adventures and misadventures of producer Max Bialystock and accountant Leo Bloom who partner to intentionally produce a full-fledged flop of a musical - and make millions in the process.
The original Broadway production of The Producers opened April 19, 2001, at the St. James Theatre and ran for 2,502 performances before closing on April 22, 2007. The musical was nominated for 15 Tony Awards, winning 12, including Best Musical, Best Choreography and Best Original Score. It also was nominated for 14 Drama Desk Awards®, winning 11, and received the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical of the Season.
The show's creative team is led by veteran director Mark Madama, who has directed shows across the country and internationally. He makes his Starlight directorial debut with The Producers. Paula Hammons Sloan is the show's choreographer, returning to Starlight after choreographing Anything Goes here in 2009. Together, Madama and Sloan will recreate Susan Stroman's original direction and choreography. Anthony Edwards serves as musical director/conductor, marking his fourth season as musical director at Starlight.
Tickets are on sale now for $10 to $85. Special discount prices are available for the Monday, August 23, preview performance. Tickets are available online at www.kcstarlight.com, by calling 816.363.STAR (7827) or at the Starlight box office at 4600 Starlight Road, Kansas City, MO 64132. All performances begin at 8:00pm. at 8:00pm. |
 Polar Bear Passage Opens at Zoo The nearly 10,000 square feet customized exhibit space for polar bears in Polar Bear Passage includes a 140,000 gallon 65 degree pool complete with diving ledges and a waterfall; a 105-ton sand box for digging; recreated glaciers and grassy areas. For guests, this awesome Arctic adventure has a climate controlled tiered seating viewing building with electronic graphics, an outdoor picnic area and a 14-foot tall polar bear statue that makes for perfect photo opportunites.
Nikita, the star of Polar Bear Passage, weighs over 700 pounds--when fully grown he could weigh over 1,000 pounds. He was born on November 21, 2006 at the Toledo Zoo and is named after a Russian Polar Bear researcher.
Kansas City Zoo is open 9:30am-4:00pm weekdays; 9:30am-5:00pm weekends. Admission is $11.50 for adults, $10.50 for seniors and $8.50 for children ages 3-11, and, as always, Friends of the Zoo members are free.
Call (816) 513-5800, or visit the Zoo's website for more information.The Kansas City Zoo is operated in agreement with the Kansas City, MO Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners. |
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Park Spotlight: Anita B. Gorman Park
 History
The largest portion of Anita B. Gorman Park is located at North Holmes Street and North East Vivion Road in Kansas City North in Clay County. The earliest area was part of the purchase of a large amount of property in 1957 by the Kansas City, Missouri Parks Department to begin a park and boulevard system in Kansas City North. An additional portion of the park is at North Oak Trafficway and North East Vivion Road acquired in 1979-1980. Property later acquired enlarged the park to the almost 46 acres it is today. Originally called Northgate Park, it was renamed "Anita B. Gorman Park" in 1991.
Anita Belle McPike was born in Palmyra, Missouri. Her family moved to Clay County, Missouri when she was 11 years old. At 17 years of age, she was city-wide president of Y-Teen, a group associated with the YMCA. She graduated from William Jewell College and earned a master's degree from Boston University. Mrs. Gorman, who married Gerald Gorman in 1954, has had a life full of involvement of working for civic improvements and in community service. She worked to stop the destruction of the Hopewell Indian archaeological site at Line Creek in 1964. She was  on the Citizens Association of Kansas City's board of governors and was elected its first woman chairman in 1977. She worked for the establishment of the Kansas City International Airport and was on the commission for its dedication in 1972. She has served on many civic boards and committees including the Salvation Army, City Union Mission, Starlight Theatre, the Convention and Visitors' Bureau, and the Liberty Memorial. She was the first woman appointed to the Kansas City, Missouri Board of Park and Recreation Commissioners, serving from 1979 until 1991 and was its President from 1986 until 1991. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources named their conservation center in Kansas City the Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center in 2005 due to her efforts and support in raising money for the center as Conservation Commission Chairman and to honor her support of conservation programs.
Amenities/Attractions
Baseball diamond (1), tennis courts (2) and a 1-mile asphalt/concrete exercise trail
Ornamental Structures
The Northland Fountain was placed at the location of North Oak Trafficway and NE Vivion Road in 1983. It is very popular and because of special plumbing, it is left on during the winter months so that the water sprays create sculptures of ice. Money was raised by local Northland residents and businesses to purchase and place the fountain. Two leaders of that effort were Mrs. Gorman and Charles Garney, a real estate developer north of the river.
The Clay County Veterans' Memorial honors Clay County veterans who served in the Civil War, World Wars I and II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War and the war in Iraq. Featured on the memorial is a sculpture entitled "Sovereign Wings" created by Sandy Scott, world renowned sculptor who studied at the Kansas City Art Institute.
Location
North Holmes Street and North East Vivion Road |
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 The Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation Department facilities and programs are available to people of all abilities. If accommodations or individual supports are needed to participate, please contact Carrie Randle, Inclusion Facilitator, at (816) 513-0730. | |
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