discover Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation mission To improve the quality of life by providing recreational, leisure, and aesthetic opportunities for all citizens, and by conserving and enhancing 2009 the environment. We will accomplish this mission by providing quality programming, making yearyear inin reviewreview the best use of existing resources, developing a supportive and influential constituency, developing effective collaborations and partnerships, and Mark L. McHenry leads the Blazing Paddles Racing Team at the annual Dragon Boat Festival & Races. acquiring and preserving natural features. Dear Friends of Parks and Recreation: As we move into 2010, it’s appropriate to look back at last year’s accomplishments. 2009 was a busy and challenging year for Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation. We have all felt the impact of our country’s struggling economy and, as a result, have had to deal with significant change. At Parks and Recreation, we have experienced reduced staff, lowered levels of service in our parks, and revisions in operating hours at our facilities. In spite of these setbacks, we were able to continue servicing our community’s youth with enhanced recreational and educational programming specific to their needs. We also amplified our marketing efforts through the use of social media. The KCMO Parks and Recreation Facebook page went live in October. I hope you have all had the opportunity to become a fan! Another achievement we proudly attained was the reaccreditation of our department for the third time in ten years making us one of only 78 nationally accredited parks and recreation agencies in the country. As you read through this Year in Review booklet, you will find details regarding additional 2009 accomplishments. Although these are trying times, the Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners and our staff will continue to provide quality programs, excellent parks, trails, recreational amenities and cultural activities for our community in 2010 and beyond. Sincerely, Photo Credits: Paul McMillian; Shannon Dooley, Heidi Downer, Jesse Frazier and Melinda Minks, Mark L. McHenry, Director KCMO Parks and Recreation Marketing & Special Events zootennialzootennial 2009 was a banner year for the n 1907 a dream began. City activists declared remodeled in 1970 to become the Education In January 2002, an historic partnership between Kansas City Zoo. It celebrated Ian idea to “create the largest zoological garden building. the Kansas City Zoo and Friends of the Zoo was its centennial; reopened the in the United States. There will be nothing better made to enhance the quality of exhibits and renovated original 1909 Zoo in the world. Swope Park is an admirable site for The Dairy Barn, funded by the Kansas City continually improve the Zoo experience for the building as the Tropics; this purpose…” division of Mid-American Dairymen, was built in visitor. Under the agreement, Friends of the Zoo, a experienced record attendance 1971. The Dairy Barn housed cows and milking non-profit, membership-based organization, of 544,316; and began The Parks Board set aside 60 acres in Swope Park equipment, and children were encouraged to manages all Zoo operations in agreement with the construction on a $10 million polar bear in 1908 for the Kansas City Zoological Gardens. participate in milking. Kansas City, Missouri Board of Parks and exhibit to be opened in 2010. Fundraisers, lectures and parades followed Recreation Commissioners. resulting in The Bird and Carnivore House, the In 1972, the Kansas City Southern Railroad At 100 years old, the Kansas City Zoo has first Zoo building. In December 1909, the Kansas donated a miniature railroad, and construction Today, a 202-acre nature sanctuary, the Kansas expanded to include more than 200 acres of City Zoological Gardens officially opened with four began on a two-mile track . City Zoo is the most useful and accessible resource beautifully landscaped park and is home to lions, three monkeys, a wolf, fox, coyote, badger, in the region for bringing urban and suburban 1,000 animals from around the world. lynx, eagle and other birds. Local philanthropist Delbert Dunmire financed families in touch with the diverse habitats, cultures Prairie Dog Town in 1987. It added to the small and animals of the natural world. A visit to the Zoo The Tropics, an indoor rainforest, provides a In 1948, a children’s zoo, Touchtown, was animal exhibits and offered another example of is a journey around the world, an interactive mild humid temperate haven for plants and launched that featured a petting zoo with a species indigenous to North America. experience that utilizes all the senses to entertain, animals from three continents. Primate antics domestic animals and freestanding structures. educate and engage visitors of all ages. For many, of Asian Gibbons, South American Saki In the early 1990s, the Zoo experienced a the Zoo serves as the only link to animals and Monkeys, Tamarins, African Mona and Blue In 1961 the Hallmark Company donated the massive reconstruction and development. The habitats that remain wild on our planet and opens Monkeys are the highlight of the Tropics “Birthday Pavilion” for birthday parties. A puppet Zoo Railroad was also shortened to its current hearts and minds to the importance of preserving entertainment. theater opened in Touchtown in 1964; it was 1-mile route. the natural world for generations to come. women’s leadership fountain Kansas City, ansas City’s oldest public fountain, the John Van Brunt as an entry feature to the then run for public office in Kansas City; Katherine Berry Missouri’s 47 iconic KWomen’s Leadership Fountain was newly created Paseo Boulevard. Richardson and Alice Berry Graham - dentist and fountains came very rededicated in early June of 2009. The doctor sisters who founded Children’s Mercy close to not flowing fountain along, with other historic landmarks After years of service, the fountain deteriorated. Hospital; Mary Harmon Weeks - educator, a in 2009 after the located in The Paseo’s median between Ninth A partial renovation in 1990, assisted by the founder of the Parent Teacher Association; Ellen fountain’s operating and Twelth Streets-- including the Meyer fundraising efforts of The Central Exchange, kept (Nell) Donnelly Reed - seamstress, progressive costs were cut from the City’s budget. Monument, The Terrace and the Fitzsimon’s the fountain running for several more years. At manufacturer, founder of Donnelly Garment Memorial--underwent a major restoration that that time, it was renamed the “Women’s Company; Bertha Manheimer Lieberman - first Fortunately, the City’s Water Services Department stepped up to assist with began in 2008. Susan Richards Johnson & Leadership Fountain” and dedicated to 13 notable president and honorary life president of the Greater covering the costs for the 2009 season and, Associates, Inc. (SRJA) was hired to do the Kansas City women who had made long-lasting Kansas City Section of the National Council of once again, the fountains flowed. complete restoration. contributions to the City. All of these women Jewish Women; Nelle Elizabeth Nichols Peters - triumphed over adversity and are forever architect of homes, office, apartment and hotel In order to proactively address this budget In August 2006, an overwhelming percentage remembered in the fabric of Kansas City history. buildings; Myrtle Page Fillmore - founder of Unity issue and insure the future operation of our of citizens said “yes” when asked to support a Honorees include: School of Christianity; Ada Crogman Franklin - fountains, the Friends of the Fountains fund Voter Referendum to allow the sale of a small educator, founder of Kansas City Call newspaper; was created. tract of property at 22nd & Gillham Road. It is Madalyn Pinkston Brock - activist, and Guadalupe Bribiesca de Garcia - organizer of Fountains have long been part of Kansas these funds that were used to restore the businesswoman, established the Madalyn Brock the Guadalupe Center, Westside Fiesta and City’s identity and are a visual display of Women’s Leadership Fountain and this section Foundation; Esther Swirk Brown - promoted community events community pride. Help showcase the beauty of Paseo’s monuments to their original glory. social justice and equality in education; Carolyn and craftsmanship of these celebrations of Benton Cockefair - English professor who A maintenance endowment is in the process of water by donating to the Friends of the The fountain at Ninth Street and The Paseo promoted continuing education; Phoebe Jane Ess being created to preserve these amenities for Fountains at www.kcmo.org/fountains. was designed in 1898 by George Kessler and - supporter of women’s suffrage, first woman to future generations. roseroselaura conyers gardengardensmith municipal The Kansas City Rose hanks to funds raised by the Rose Society The garden’s circular plan was the original Through the years, the Friendship and Memory Society is an all- Tfrom public and private donors, the Laura concept of the eminent landscape architect, S. Rose Program has provided funds for the upkeep volunteer organization Conyers Smith Municipal Rose Garden in Loose Herbert Hare. The garden’s pergolas, gifts from of the garden. Each year, about $5,000 is spent that began when a Park underwent an extensive renovation in individuals and organizations in early years, bear replacing roses. group of residents, 2009. commemorative plaques. under the leadership The Rose Garden is an accredited All-America