Contribute your knowledge to help guide the NE KCK Heritage Trail
As you may have heard, Groundwork NRG is kicking off the process of constructing a continuous walking trail through the northeast. The NE KCK Heritage Trail will run from Kaw Point to Quindaro, and will make use of as many existing paths, historical sites, and green spaces as possible. The exact route of the Trail is yet to be decided, and we’re determined to put the decision-making power in the hands of northeast residents. If you’d like to get involved, there are a couple of ways to help:
Steering Committee
The Steering Committee will consist of residents, property owners, local business representatives, service providers, and public officials who are all stakeholders in the improvement of the NE KCK community. The role of a Steering Committee member is to:
Identify resources or provide information regarding conditions within the neighborhood
Assist in promoting larger Community Meetings to a broad range of residents and partners
Provide information about agencies, businesses or other entities that could assist in Trail development
Help to establish criteria for Trail route selection
Review deliverables and provide comments and feedback before they go to the larger community
Help to establish nomination criteria for significant people, places and events to memorialize through the Trail
Help identify potential partners and guide post Plan implementation
Steering Committee members are expected to review materials provided to them during the course of the planning process and attend approximately six meetings between Summer 2021 and Spring 2022 in order to provide direction for the development of the Plan. Meetings of the Steering Committee are working meetings to address issues of Plan development and implementation, and are not intended as open public forums.
Our introductory Steering Committee meeting will be Virtual / Online and is scheduled for: Friday, August 6, 2021; 11:00-12:00 am & 4:00-5:00 pm.
We greatly appreciate your time and energy in helping to improve the NE KCK community. If you are interested, please contact Rachel Jefferson of Groundwork NRG: rjefferson@northeastkck.org.
Porch Conversations
Groundwork NRG and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, KS are working with planning consultant COLLABO to create a NE KCK Heritage Trail that integrates land use, green infrastructure, and job access, with expanded transportation options, participatory community planning, and NE KCK’s rich cultural history.
As part of the engagement process, COLLABO is looking to conduct four informal 2-hour conversations with smaller groups (5-10) of neighbors in the NE KCK area. The intent of the Porch Conversations is to begin to discuss significant People, Places, and Events that may become memorialized as part of the NE KCK Heritage Trail.
The Planning Team will bring snacks and refreshments, and portions of the conversations may be recorded by a videographer to help document community engagement. Conversations can happen on a porch, yard, or local park. We are looking to schedule our conversations for Tuesday, August 17, 2021.
We are open to morning, afternoon or evening timeslots. If you are interested in this unique opportunity, please contact us by Monday, August, 2, 2021 by emailing Katanya Raby of COLLABO: urbandreamsofmine@gmail.com.