Plans for expanding indoor space and programming at the Shawnee Civic Centre and review of the city’s role in sports development at the Valley of Champions were two key highlights from Shawnee’s parks and recreation master plan, which the governing body and advisory board reviewed last week. During a special joint meeting May 5, the Shawnee city council and parks and recreation advisory board reviewed final drafts of the city’s first parks and recreation master plan and Imagine Shawnee, the city’s first strategic visioning plan. The 10-year parks and recreation master plan serves as a framework for the city’s vision and direction and establishes goals and plans for Shawnee’s parks, trails, open space, recreation and events.
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City offices and facilities in Fairway and Westwood remain closed at this time, but any potential updates can be found on their respective websites as they come. To stay updated with Fairway, click here. To stay updated with Westwood, click here. While Johnson County and state stay-at-home orders have been lifted, the county itself and the cities throughout it are taking the reopening process one step at a time. While the county and some cities, such as Roeland Park and Shawnee, have announced phased reopen plans for city facilities, and noted safety measures to be taken throughout these plans, other cities have yet to announce reopen plans or change procedures used during the stay-at-home orders. Many city halls and other city facilities remain closed, and while most are encouraging business to be conducted online or via phone, email or mail, a few cities have limited access at city facilities.
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JCCC’s marketing photographer, Susan McSpadden, has made it her mission to document these unprecedented times for our campus community. Each week, she provides a look into how a different area of campus is responding to the pandemic. The JCCC Open Petal Farm is considered an essential operation during the campus closure, with efforts now directed toward growing sustainable produce for local donations. Recipients include area restaurants serving as community kitchens and other local food distribution organizations.
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Hundreds of people lined the streets Overland Park Sunday night as emergency service vehicles with their lights on made their way south past the site of the death of Mike Mosher, the second police officer killed in the line of duty in the department’s history. The “Salute to Blue” procession was the first in a series of events set for this week to honor Mosher. A drive-by visitation is set for Tuesday at the Overland Park Convention Center. A private funeral will be held Wednesday. Mosher died Sunday after following a vehicle he’d observed fleeing the scene of a collision. In an address broadcast over police radio channels following the conclusion of the procession, Overland Park Police Chief Frank Donchez said Mosher was part of the “thin blue line” that keeps society in order.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)