Section B
85th Year, No. 1
The University of Kansas—Lawrence, Kansas
Wednesday, August 21, 1974
Section B
Future of Old Lawrence Concerns Local Officials
By SHARON WALSH
Kansan Staff Reporter
The summer agendas of the Lawrence City Commission and the Douglas County Commission have been crowded with futuristic plans. New community buildings, bridges, subdivisions and sewage plants have been just a few of their concerns.
But ask any city or county official what his greatest concern is and, more than likely, the answer will be maintenance of the old, not development of the new.
Mayor Jack Rose said recently that his major concern was that the city proceed at an accelerated pace with the housing inspection program east of the University of Kansas campus.
"We want to make sure none of the students are living in unsafe housing," he said.
With the development of Clinton Reservoir and new areas to the west of the city, commissioners said they thought new housing developments would take care of themselves. However, the growth and redevelopment of the older sections of Lawrence is something that will have to be cultivated, they said.
"The alternative to not tackling the housing situation in areas such as East Lawrence now would be to allow these areas to disintegrate," said Commissioner Nancy Hambleton. "We need to find better ways to work with neighborhood groups and associations."
Commissioner Barkley Clark said "slumlordism" should be stopped.
"The housing code should be enforced so that brightening influences are reduced without adding unintended costs to students," the student reenter, "Clark said. "The area east of campus is a major problem. To make the area a place where students will want to live requires a good business of commercial enterprises and good housing."
Talks concerning rezoning an area around the campus for commercial use have been going on between city and university officials for over a year. However, Dick McClanathan, city planning officer at City Hall, were lying the area wouldn't submit their plans to the planning commission until sometime next summer.
If rezoning is done, old homes would be converted
for commercial uses rather than replaced by new buildings, Clark said.
City projects in areas other than housing will also affect students.
Returning students will recognize the downtown area's new boutiques, restaurants and fresh land-scaping as a revitalization of the old that has become the work is a result of an urban renewal project.
Highway 59, south of 23rd and Iowa streets, should relieve many traffic problems for students living in that area, Clark said. The highway should be completed early this fall.
Work on Clinton Lake continues. Clark said that although the work had not yet been completed, the project is expected to be completed by fall.
Wells Park, recently completed, is south of town on Highway 95 and provides great areas for picnics, by the lake.
"There is a real need to increase the recreational opportunities around Lawrence," Clark said. "Meetings are planned with the corps of engineers to update plans for a park along the Kansas River."
There is even the possibility of an ice skating rink for the city."
Commissioners recognize the University as a strong force in the city and it is a major consideration in many of their decisions, Hambleton said.
"The University provides excitement in the
world because it provides a market for
goods and real property."
But university students must also help bear the responsibility for city projects. The new secondary sewage treatment plant is one of these responsibilities.
The plant, which is required by the tuerqua government under the 1970 Clean Water Act, will cost an estimated $9 million. About 75 per cent of the plant will be purchased by the government. The remainder will come from increased funding.
Students living in apartments will probably see an average increase of about $14 a month on what is needed to live there.
One area of disagreement among commissioners is the effect of the University on the number of city entrances.
"In the late 1960s Lawrence almost doubled its police force when the University was having problems," Hambleton said. "Sailors for police and firemen account for more than 50 per cent of the city's operational costs. I hope we can cut down in this area."
Rose said he was very much against any reduction of the police force.
"I think it would be a terrible mistake," he said. "We ought to think in terms of upgrading the qualifications of the force. Just because we haven't trained our officers durability does not mean we need to reduce the force."
A city study shows that between 1966 and 1970 the size of the Lawrence police force increased by 18.4 per cent.
Buford Watton, city manager, said students could have a tremendous effect on the city.
"I would love to see students involved in city government, he said, "but, realistically, I believe that most students are satisfied to get their education and leave. Unless they intend to settle here, they aren't really concerned with the operation of the city government."
Commissioner Barkley Clark and Mayor Jack Rose Confer at a Commission Meeting. Later Rose and Commissioner Fred Pence Listen to a Lawrence Citizen
Kansan Staff Photos by DEBBIE GUMP
Lawrence Parks Provide Respite Renovation, Recreation Facilities Emphasized by City
"We just put them wherever we could get the land." Bly said.
By PAT NANCE
Kansan Staff Writer
If you're interested in bicycle tours, ski lessons, jogging, bridge, painting, or just watching the birds, try a visit to one of Lawrence's 21 city parks this fall.
The majority of parks have been developed since 1900, he said, because the city has had a good government had become more aware of the need and values of parks.
The history of the Lawrence city parks goes back to the city's founding in 1854. Both Central and South parks were included in the original plans for the city of Lawrence. Park development for the first 100 years was slow, however.
The 1967 Lawrence City Comprehensive Plan says that the parks have three purposes: to provide outdoor recreation facilities; to enable historic and scenic values in the community to be preserved; and to permit property poorly adapted for urban purposes to be protected from harmful private use.
F. A. RUSSELL city council member at the time, said, "The acquiring of land for these additional parks is extremely important at the present time as available free land." Now is the opportune time to make the start. We should not let it slip by."
THE USE OF PARKS as a playground for children did not become popular until the early 1900s. Until then children didn't play in the same manner as they do now.
Since that time the park acreage has increased tenfold so that now the 21 city parks are over half a million.
"The old work ethic and parks didn't mix in earlier years," said Wiley, Blye city.
In the spring of 1912, the first organization was formed for the purpose of equipping and maintaining playgrounds in Lawrence. Lawn ground schools were equipped with aparatus.
Bly said that after World War II the public began demanding and accepting more parks. In March 1946, when Lawrence had only 24 acres of land, he was appointed for the purchase of equipment and the development of three neighborhood parks.
The following year, James Naismith,
professor of physical education, said: "The
beauty of the female athletes be
the best demonstrated and the work will
be carried on with more vigor next year."
Bly said he could see a great difference in what the people of Lawrence expected to be appropriated for parks over the last 10 years.
"In 1963 if $5,000 was appropriated, you would have thought the city was going bankrupt," he said. "Now they wouldn't pay it at a $50,000 grant if it was spent well."
Rather than concentrating on new parks, he said, the city is currently interested in expanding its public spaces.
"We can't sit at all," he said. "If we had all the workers developed, it would be sufficient."
Bly said the city now needed at least four more major shelters, more tennis courts, an indoor swimming pool and neighborhood pools.
In January 1962, the National Guard moved out of the Community Building at 11th and Vermont, making that space available for recreation for senior citizens.
OVER THE PAST THREE DECADES, increasing emphasis has been placed on recreation programs. The Recreation Commission was appointed by the school commission in 1946 to organize and operate a recreation program for the community.
In October 1963, the city commission approved building the South Park Recreation Center at 1141 Massachusetts St.
In the 1970s the recreation program was expanded to include a day camp, a men's fitness program and a mobile playground, which is a van carrying games and sports equipment to different locations throughout the city.
Regular summer activities include a summer theater, lessons in swimming, art, tennis, ballet, baton, bridge, creative dance, guitar and slimfitts, and weekly brunch at the Lawrence Community Band and by the Lawrence Community and Musicians Local No. 512 Concert Band.
Sports programs include weight training, wrestling, tennis tournaments, so-lip pitchball, baseball leagues, bicycle tours and jogging.
Concentre'red activities and special facilities are what draw most people to the parks, according to Bly. He said that for the most part, the public respected and took care of the properties, but that closing hours were needed to control late-might vandalism.
PROGRAMS BEGUN this past summer included canoe trips, a pet show, a fishing derby and "Movies in the Park" at the South Park Recreation Center.
Sports and other activities are continued throughout the winter months at the South Park Center, Community Building and East Lawrence Center. Many school gymnasiums are open for free play and organized activities.
"Someone can tear up something in 20 minutes that you do you tables and will build a room," she said.
ROBINSON PARK—Named in honor of the first governor of Kansas, Charles Robinson, this one-acre park is at the intersection of Massachusetts and 6th streets south of the Kaw bridge. The land was purchased by the county in 1860.
A brief history and description of the individual city parks follows:
CENTRAL PARK—A special attraction of this seven-acre park, purchased in 1866, is the original Santa Fe locomotive. Between Kentucky and Tennessee streets and 6th and 8th streets, this park is the location of the Aquatic Center, Swimming Pool, opened June 2, 1969. The park also has picnic areas, water fountains and basketball areas.
SOUTH PARK—Purchased in 1866, this park is on Massachusetts Street south of the main business district. The Community Building, now being renovated, is north of the park at 10th and Vermont streets. The Lawrence Extension Corporation has a west wide of the 1934, but many activities. The first ladder truck of the Lawrence fire department, as well as a playground, wading pool, basketball goals, picnic areas and water fountains are also on the west wide. The east side includes the bandstand, rose gardens and a historic courtyard.
See CITY PARKS Page 7
Beauty and Fun
Kansas Staff Photos by MICHAEL RIEKE
Lawrence city parks are designed for both looking and doing. The bandstand and flower garden in South Park make it an ideal place for relaxation. Other parks swarm with children who come to play on slides, swings and other equipment.