In this issue:
- Lawrence in Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area
- Woodchip/Mulch Sale
- Still time to enroll
- Frequently Asked Questions
Lawrence in Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area
History, culture, and landscape within the Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area combine to tell the stories that contribute to our national and individual freedoms.
A wide swath of eastern Kansas and western Missouri are a national heritage area highlighting the region’s role leading up to the Civil War as well as its role in the ongoing national debate over the definition of freedom.
The Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area includes Lawrence, 29 Kansas counties and 12 in Missouri, where the dispute over slavery played out in the months leading up to the Civil War.
The area was a hotbed of violence and political strife—known as Bleeding Kansas— following the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, which allowed a popular vote to determine if Kansas would be added to the country as a free or slave state. Three months after Kansas was admitted as a free state in 1861, the Civil War began.
On June 2, 1856, in a prairie slough, militias from Kansas and Missouri fought the first skirmish in what Abraham Lincoln would call our “great war to determine whether any nation conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal can long endure.”
Led by anti-slavery zealot John Brown and future Confederate Colonel Henry Clay Pate, the Battle of Black Jack in southern Douglas County preceded the siege of Fort Sumter and the formal start of the Civil War by five years. During those years, the events in our region focused the nation’s attention on the great struggle between state and federal authority over slavery and the humanity of a nation.
In the coming months, drafts of each section of a management plan will be posted online at www.ffnha-hosting.com. The public is invited to review the drafts and make comments. Later this year, the completed plan will be forwarded to the Secretary of Interior for approval. The Heritage area can qualify for up to $10 million in federal funds over 15 years, once a plan is approved.
Designated by the National Park Service, a National Heritage Area has distinctive landscape shaped by natural, cultural, historic and recreational resources, and is recognized by the U.S. Congress. A heritage area tells a nationally important story through its geography, its man-made structures, and the traditions that have evolved within the landscape. Citizens, local, state, and Federal governments, and nonprofit and private sector groups work to preserve the integrity of their distinct landscape and local stories so that future generations will understand their relationship to the land.
The Freedom’s Frontier designation will help share our place in the history of our state, and highlight the contribution Kansas made to the nation. It will serve as a tool to promote economic development and tourism. Judy Billings, Director, Lawrence Convention & Visitor’s Bureau
Woodchip/Mulch Sale
Held rain or shine
Sale hours:
- Thursday, April 2 8 am to 3 pm
- Friday, April 3 8 am to 3 pm
- Saturday, April 4 8 am to 4 pm
Location:
LPRD Forestry Division facility, 1420 E. 11th St.
Cost:
$10 per pick up load.
How to use:
Woodchips, like mulch, are helpful when it comes to the growth of newly planted trees, when used in gardens or used in flower beds. Spreading woodchips reduces the amount of water lost through evaporation, prevents excess run-off, restricts weed growth, and replaces valuable nutrients into the soil.
Rather than purchase mulch, Parks and Recreation recycles trees that are cut down throughout the city. The trees are processed through a chipper and used as mulch. The woodchip sale eliminates woodchips generated throughout the year.
For more info: 785-832-7979
Still time to enroll
Spring classes for youth and adults
Lawrence Parks and Recreation’s spring classes begin in late March. Classes available on a first-come/first-serve basis and include: art, dance, fitness, computers and more.
For Kids
Beginning Ballet (ages 5 to 7): An introduction to ballet emphasizing stretches, large muscle movement and basic barre technique.
When: 4:30-5:15 pm Wednesdays, March 25 to May 13
Location: Community Building.
Cost: $34
Dancing With the Stars (ages 7 to 11): Introduces the basics of partner dancing (partners not required).
When: 6 to 6:50 pm Wednesdays, March 25-May 13
Location: South Park Rec Center
Cost: $32.
For Adults
Zumba!: The new wave of fitness (16 years and older). Aerobic exercise incorporating salsa, belly and West-African dance. Classes begin week of March 23 and run for 8 weeks. Cost is $23.
Tennis: Saturday and weekday classes available for both youth and adults. Classes being March 28 and run through May 2. Cost is $34.
For other classes, consult the 2009 Winter/Spring Activities Guide, available at all LPRD facilities or online at www.lprd.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I report a pothole?
Report a pothole location on the pothole reporting line: 832-3456 or fill out our online form at: www.lawrenceks.org/public_works.
How do I report a street light that is out?
The city pays Westar Energy to maintain street lights and make repairs. You can reach Westar Energy at (800) 383-1183.
When does Monday yard waste collection start?
Curb side collection of leaves and grass begins March 2. Cans, carts or compostable bags should be set out by 6:00 a.m. Pick ups will occur on Mondays until December.
Yard trimmings will not be collected on regular trash day. Yard waste set out on a regular trash day or in plastic bags will be tagged and left.
Alternatives to setting out yard waste for curbside collection are mulch mowing and backyard composting. For info on yard waste management techniques visit: www.lawrencerecycles.org.