110 Maine Street
HISTORY
In November 2013, the Lawrence City Commission accepted the donation of 7.98 acres of land, which houses a lake and a trail from the Bert Nash Community Health Center to become a park named for the former CEO of Bert Nash Sandra J. Shaw. Shaw was CEO of Bert Nash for 22 years.
The park site, originally owned by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, was bought by Bert Nash in 2011. The former VFW Past 852 was originally purchased by the VFW in the early 1960s from William R. Green, Sr. The area was originally known as “Green’s Park.”
Prior to the City receiving the parcel, John McGrew and his non-profit organization, Outside for a Better Inside, were successful in receiving a $55,000 matching-grant from the Sunflower Foundation to go toward the construction of a concrete trail through the park. His group raised the matching funds to complete the trail. In 2014, the City of Lawrence was successful in receiving a $53,000 matching-grant also from the Sunflower Foundation to construct a trail to connect the Outside for a Better Inside Trail through Riverfront Park to Constant Park and its established trail, providing passage to Downtown Lawrence to the Pinckney Neighborhood.
A simple shelter was donated and built by the Westar Green Team, providing a shaded area and an observation deck overlooking the lake, which was completed in 2014.
DESCRIPTION OF PARK
Sandra J. Community Health Park is an 8-acre nature park with a 3 1/2-acre lake. A paved, hard-surfaced trail named for the Outside for a Better Inside, the non-profit organization that raised funds for it completion, runs along the lake. The park also has a hardwood forest, showcasing a variety of trees of varying age. which can be accessed by the Outside for a Better Inside Trail beginning at 100 Maine St., or from an access road from West 2nd Street north of the Kaw River Water Treatment Plant, approximately 300 feet past the entrance to Burcham Park,
The amenities of the park include:
- Lake
- Fishing Dock
- Outside for a Better Inside Trail
- Open Space/Natural Area
- Shelter/Outlook
SHELTERS
There is 1 shelter located along the Outside for a Better Inside Trail. The Shelter is designed as a shade structure and is along the trail and next to the observation deck and isn’t designed for renting.
If you are looking to reserve an outdoor shelters and/or indoor facility, reservations are taken at any of the community recreation centers including the Community Building, 115 West 11th St.; East Lawrence Recreation Center, 1245 East 15th St.; Holcom Park Recreation Center, 2700 West 27th St.; Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center, 4706 Overland Drive; or Sports Pavilion Lawrence, 100 Rock Chalk Lane. For questions or more information on Special Use Permits, please call the Administrative Office at (785) 832-3450 or email parksrec@lawrenceks.org. See our shelter rentals page for more information on renting these facilities or call (785) 832-7920.