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Parks 'n Play eNews
A monthly update from Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation
 | | Our annual Santa's Wonderlands take place December 7-9, 2012. |
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Starlight Announces 2013 Broadway Season
Starlight Theatre's 2013 Broadway Season will include flying cows, '80s dance craze, the ultimate con man, a little mermaid, rebellious teens, forbidden love and show-stopping musical numbers.
Spamalot: May 31-June 6, 2013
Monty Python's Spamalot is the outrageous musical comedy lovingly ripped off from the film classic "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." With music and lyrics by the Grammy-Award winning team of Eric Idle and John Du Prez, Spamalot tells the story of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table as they embark on their quest for the Holy Grail.
Catch Me If You Can: June 11 - June 16, 2013
A new musical from the team behind Hairspray! Based on the hit film and the incredible true story that inspired it, Catch Me If You Can is the high-flying, Broadway musical that tells the story of Frank W. Abagnale, Jr., who runs away from home in search of the glamorous life. With nothing more than his boyish charm, a big imagination and millions of dollars in forged checks, Frank successfully poses as a pilot, a doctor and a lawyer - living the high life and winning the girl of his dreams.
Based on the movie that defined a generation, Flashdance - The Musical tells the unforgettable story of Alex, a working-class girl from Pittsburgh striving to make her dreams of becoming a professional dancer a reality.
Disney's The Little Mermaid: July 23-28, 2013
In a magical kingdom beneath the sea, the beautiful young mermaid Ariel longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. Based on one of Hans Christian Anderson's most beloved stories, it's a hauntingly beautiful love story for the ages.
Footloose: August 5-11, 2013
One of the most explosive movie musicals bursts onto the stage with exhilarating results. When Ren and his mother move from Chicago to a small farming town, Ren isn't prepared for the rigorous local edicts, including a ban on dancing. To the rockin' rhythm of its Oscar and Tony-nominated top 40 score and augmented with dynamic new songs for the stage musical, Footloose celebrates the wisdom of listening to young people, guiding them with a warm heart and an open mind.
Miss Saigon: September 7-13, 2013
A classic love story is brought up-to-date in one of the most stunning theatrical spectacles of all time. In Miss Saigon, Puccini's Madame Butterfly is brought to the modern world. This powerful pop opera is an emotional tale about forbidden love, the tragedies of war and the sacrifices made to achieve the American Dream. Tony Award-winning musical Miss Saigon, created by the visionaries behind Les Miserables.
Current Starlight Theatre Season Ticket Holders may renew their tickets now at kcstarlight.org, by calling 816-363-STAR (7827) or in person at Starlight Theatre, 4600 Starlight Road in Swope Park. Box Office hours are 9:00am-5:00pm, Monday through Friday. New season tickets and single tickets are not yet available.
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QUICK LINKS
City of Kansas City, Missouri
Volunteers Needed!
KC Park Finder
MISSION
To improve the quality of life by providing recreational, leisure, and aesthetic opportunities for all citizens, and by conserving and enhancing the environment. We will accomplish this mission by providing quality programming, making the best use of existing resources, developing a supportive and influential constituency, developing effective collaborations and partnerships, and acquiring and preserving natural features.
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Kansas City, Missouri
Parks and Recreation
4600 East 63rd Street
Kansas City, MO 64130
www.kcmo.org/parks
Watch the latest KC Parks segment from the City's Weekly Report:
 | | Tiffany Springs Parkway |
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Emerald Ash Borer Confirmed in Kansas City
Quarantine placed on wood products within Clay and Platte counties.
The City of Kansas City, Missouri is advising residents that both the Missouri Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Agriculture have confirmed the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) as being in Kansas City.  While not a threat to human or animal health, this beetle is destructive to the 4.6 million ash trees in the Kansas City region. To prevent the accidental spread of the Emerald Ash Borer, a state and federal quarantine has been placed on wood products in Clay and Platte counties in Missouri and Wyandotte County in Kansas. Please note, the quarantine has not been placed on Jackson County, Missouri. As a result of this quarantine, the City's leaf and brush drop-off sites located at 1815 N. Chouteau and at 10301 Raytown Road will not accept leaf and brush from Clay and Platte county residents after January 12, 2013. Alternative drop-off site(s) will be announced for Clay County and Platte County residents in the near future. The Emerald Ash Borer is a small (1/2 inch) metallic green beetle native to Asia and attacks only ash trees. It was first detected in the United States in Michigan in 2002. Since that time it has spread to other states including Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Kansas. Ten of millions of ash trees in forest, rural and urban areas have already been killed or are heavily infested by this pest. The broad distribution of the EAB in the United States is primarily due to people inadvertently transporting firewood, unprocessed logs and infested ash nursery stock. Ash trees become infested when adult beetles lay eggs on the bark of limbs at the top of the tree. The eggs hatch into larvae that bore into the tree, making S-shaped tunnels just under the bark, disrupting the water and nutrient flow, eventually killing the tree. The beetle then emerges in the spring from the tree through 1/8-inch D-Shaped holes in the bark. What are some the symptoms of an EAB infestation? - Sparse leaves and/or branches dying in the upper part of the tree
- New sprouts on the roots and/or lower trunk
- Short (3-5 inches) vertical splits in the bark
- Winding, S-shaped tunnels just under the bark
- Small white- or cream-colored larvae under the bark
- 1/8-inch D-Shaped holes on the bark
- Increased woodpecker activity on the tree
Residents who are unsure if they have ash trees or if their ash tree suffers from EAB are advised to contact a certified arborist or forester for help. Visit the Missouri Department of Conservation website for tips on how to hire a qualified professional at www.mdc.mo.gov/node/7182. For more information about the Emerald Ash Borer, visit the following cooperative website: www.eab.missouri.edu. Information will also be posted on the City's website in the coming weeks. It is important that residents not be hasty to remove ash trees but educate themselves about this pest between now and spring time in order to make informed decisions on whether an ash tree should be removed at some future point in time or chemically treated to preserve it. Now is also the time for residents to plan spring plantings of new trees on their property to help replace the ash trees that may eventually be lost. Visit this website for more information about EAB in Missouri.
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KC Parks Conducts Prescribed Burns
 Several of Kansas City, Missouri's prairie areas are burned in a controlled setting each spring and fall to help with prairie restoration and to maintain healthy ecosystems. As part of a reciprocal arrangement with KC WildLands, KC Parks staff, Conservation Corps and other nonprofit entities assist with these burns.
Depending upon the weather, four areas --Lakeside Nature Center, the native plantings along the Blue River in Minor Park and Minor Park Golf Course, and the prairie in Jerry Smith Park--are scheduled to be burned over the next few weeks.
Why Burn Prairies?
Before the European settlers came to the prairies, fire was a natural occurrence. Lightening strikes would occur and burn a from a couple up to hundreds of acres. Fires were also intentionally started by Native Americans to drive game; encourage growth of nuts, berries, and seeds for food; improve pasture for domestic and wild animals; protect villages and camps; and to make travel easier. When the settlers arrived they tried hard to work the land, but it wasn't until the invention of the steel plow that the settlers were successful in breaking the sod. With this success came the disappearance of the prairies and the disappearance of the fires that the remaining prairies needed.
Managing prairies with prescribed burns has many benefits. Unburned prairies leave a mantle of dead and decaying vegetation that stifles the growth of prairie plants and deprives them of space and light. In a study comparing an area burned in Spring after the snows melt to an area unburned for 25 years, there was a three- to four-fold increase in forbs (flowers) for the following two growing seasons. Plant diversity after a burn increases for six to seven years and then the stifling growth occurs once again. The burn also helps release the nutrients in the dead vegetation so it can be used by the new growth. The blackened soil heats up fast by absorbing solar energy, thus stimulating speedy seed germination, sprouting and growth. Burning also helps in controlling shrubs that are invading into the prairie. Without burning, many of the prairies would eventually turn into forests. Prairies are an important part of the ecosystem. They have an abundance of plants, insects, birds, mammals, and reptiles, many of these found only in prairies. Warm season grass prairies provide excellent cover for wildlife because they hold up better under severe weather. The grasses and forbs also provide seed and nectar for insects, butterflies, birds, and small mammals. However, in order to get these benefits, fire must occur to restore the prairie.
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Master Plan Adopted for Little Blue Valley Park
 Following a series of community engagement planning meetings with input from residents and stakeholders, a Master Plan has been developed for KC Parks' newest park--Little Blue Valley. The plan was officially adopted by the Board on October 30, 2012.
In 2011, the City of Kansas City, Missouri completed the purchase of 93-acres located at 82nd Street and Noland Road with plans to transform the property into a new city park.
"The residents of Little Blue Valley have played a major role in the planning of the park by providing input on the development of the parkland and the amenities to be included in it," said KC Parks Director Mark L. McHenry.
Elements of the Little Blue Valley Park Master Plan include:
- Trails- racetrack material will be recycled into walking trails that include a 2-mile perimeter loop trail, individual loop trail increments and a pond loop
- Flying Disc Golf Course
- Playground
- Sprayground
- Picnic Shelters
- Sand Volleyball Court
- Unlit practice baseball fields and four backstops for open play, family use or team practice
- 22-acres of restored prairie grass
- 8-acres of new woodland
The parkland sits adjacent to a county park and will eventually serve as a trailhead with the extension of the Little Blue Trace trail, a partnership between the City's Parks and Recreation Department and Jackson County Parks + Rec.
View the Master Plan online.
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Parks Spotlight: Delbert J. Haff Memorial Circle Fountain
The Delbert J. Haff fountain, located at the entrance to Swope Park, is one of three Kansas City, Missouri fountains that operate year-round.
 HISTORY: Delbert J. Haff, was a young lawyer retained by the Board of Parks Commissioners in the late 1890's who became an essential influence in the direction that the Kansas City Park Board has evolved today.
A circle outside Swope Park was dedicated to this pioneer. The mirror pool was designed with a low retaining wall of coursed stone. In 1966, it was equipped with a center spraying ring and seven vertical jets that operate year round. This fountain welcomes visitors to the entrance of Swope Park and pays tribute to one of Kansas City's most influential proponents of the local parks system.
The centerpiece of the memorial is a bust which faces east, toward Swope Park. It its on a stone base 52" high and is shielded on top and the sides by a 94" high stone canopy. The unpolished stone is reddish-brown. The sculpture is at the far west end of 600 foot-long Haff traffic circle. Fifteen feet in front of the bust is a 160' long by 60" wide pool and fountain. The area is landscaped with flowers and benches.
INSCRIPTION: DELBERT J. HAFF 1859 TO 1943, LAWYER, PARK COMMISSIONER FROM 1908 TO 1912 AND EARLY PIONEER FOR THE KANSAS CITY PARK DEPARTMENT. DELBERT J. HAFF WAS RETAINED IN 1893 BY THE CITY'S FIRST PARK BOARD. HE WAS LARGELY RESPONSIBLE FOR SOLVING THE FINANCIAL AND LEGAL PROBLEMS FACING THE FIRST PARK BOARD.
LOCATION: Meyer Boulevard west of Swope Parkway in Haff Circle
DESIGNER: Jorgen Dreyer, Kansas City sculptor
DEDICATED: October 27, 1940
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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 Sheronda Stonum at
816-784-5200 or e-mail sheronda.stonum@kcmo.org.
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