Volume 126 Issue 22
kansan.com
Monday, September 30, 2013
OUTDOOR EXPANSION
William Patterson pushes his son on a swing at Edgewood Park. Patterson says the playground equipment at Edgewood Park is less up-to-date than equipment at other parks in Lawrence.
JAMES HOYT/KANSAN
MACKENZIE CLARK
mclark@kansan.com
For the second year in a row, Lawrence received the $20,000 Let's Play City Construction Grant from the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group and national nonprofit organization KaBOOM! .Lawrence is one of 29 U.S. cities selected to receive the grant.
The grant will go toward renovations of playground equipment at Edgewood Park, said Roger Steinbrock, marketing supervisor for the Lawrence Parks and Recreation department.
"['The foundation] wants to see active engagement from the community, so basically we'll have public meetings with neighborhoods and other people that are wanting to be involved," Steinbrock said. "They really want to get buy-in from the community so they may take better care of it."
Steinbrock said the department is still in the process of coordinating public meetings to accomplish this goal, but he hopes to have dates set by late October or early November.
"I think Lawrence is very strong with communication between the citizens and the municipality," Steinbrock said.
William Patterson, Lawrence resident, and his 3-year-old son visit various parks around the city. Pat
terson said he would be interested in attending the public meetings to discuss what changes will be made.
"I think [the park] is pretty decent as it stands," Patterson said. "It could use some renovations for sure, and I'm not sure how much the budget that is allotted will allow the park to change."
Patterson said some of the other parks have more "up-to-date, abstract" equipment, which his son enjoys. He would also like to see some art that reflects the University, perhaps with some student input.
Patterson's son said he likes some things he likes at Edgewood Park are the swings, the slides, things
to climb on and things that have bright colors. He also would like more tables in the park because he enjoys drawing there.
None of the parks in Lawrence are "really notable", Patterson said. "We've got quantity over quality, in my opinion" he said.
the pari-
"This play equipment has been here since I've lived in Lawrence, and that's been all my life," Frazier said.
Donald Frazier, 19-year-old Lawrence resident, frequents Edgewood Park and said he believes it is a good place for families because of the very little violence and thinks that the grant will be very good for the park.
Frazier said it would be nice to have two basketball hoops, instead only one, and believes it would attract more people to the park. He has also heard from friends and family members that they would like to see new equipment like monkey bars, which he himself would use to exercise.
Mark Hecker, assistant director for the Lawrence Parks and Recreation department, said the grant will double the amount of money available to renovate Edgewood Park.
"The playground will probably cost $40,000 to $50,000 and without this grant, we wouldn't be able to do that," he said.
Hecker said the current equipment has been there for about 30 years and "it's just worn-out." He said the goal is to finish construction on the new playground by spring of 2014.
Last year, the grant went toward a new playground at John Taylor Park in North Lawrence.
Steinbrock said in order to receive this grant a city must first be approved as a Playful City USA. This year, 217 communities nationwide received this designation; those cities are then eligible to apply for grants.
— Edited by Chas Strobel
CAMPUS
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Student group raises funds to help pay for cancer treatments
The faces of members light up as they brainstorm ideas for their float in the Homecoming parade. The excitement heightens as their vision comes to life. A truck bed
KATIE MCBRIDE
kmcbride@kansan.com
decorated to look like a boxing ring. Members decked out like boxers. A huge sign that reads: "Get In The Fight."
STAC's mission is to raise money for families in need of assistance with expenses while a member of their family is fighting cancer. The group recently started spreading the word through various forms of
It's the motto and driver of the campaign for the new student organization on campus. Students Together Against Cancer.
SEE CANCER PAGE 3
UNIVERSITY
Senate tackles funding cuts for student organizations
ROBERT PYATT
rpyatt@kansan.com
In his opening report to the student senate's meeting last week, student body president Marcus Tetwiler expressed his disappointment in the financial situation. Only $50,000 is available to give to student organizations this school
year — a third the size of what previous student senates have had.
"We have less money to give," said Tetwiler, a senior from Paola.
"I say 'bad,' because I feel bad for every single one of our student groups that
Last week, a bill was passed to reduce general student organization funding in half. Every student organization will now be given $100, rather than $200, in funding for general use.
"Everything is tight," Tetwiler said. "Enrollment is down, retention is down, and our activity fee, which allows for this fund,
"...we have to follow our rules and regulations to be as responsible with the amount we have."
expects us to ease their financial burden. We can't [fund] to the level we wish, but we have to follow our rules and regulations to be as responsible with the amount we have."
MARCUS TETWILER student body president
has not been increased to match those financial limitations of enrollment."
Senators are working to pinch more pennies than ever before.
In the first month of school, 35 percent of the year's per-request budget was given out
to student organizations. The organizations that have not received the funds they requested have instead been advised to find alternative fundraising options, like gathering membership dues or
SEE SENATE PAGE 3
CLASSIFIEDS 5
CROSSWORD 5
CRYPTOQUIPS 5
OPINION 4
SPORTS 12
SUDOKU 5
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2013 The University Daily Kansan
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