You’re invited to:
MUSIC IN THE MEADOW
Sunday October 3rd, 4 pm to 7 pm

MUSIC: Free Concert by Ernest James Zydeco!

MEADOW: Across from the Westport Roanoke Community Center

FOOD TRUCK: Miranda's Mexican Food Truck! (Facebook)

FUN FOR ALL: Caricature artist! Fun for kiddos!

Don't you think it's time we had a party? It's the TEN YEAR anniversary of Roanoke Park Conservancy and we feel like celebrating. Let's enjoy a beautiful evening in the park together, chatting in the south meadow, listening to Ernest James Zydeco, and having some delicious food truck food. Rock on with your accordi-on.

Sponsored by Roanoke Park Conservancy, in your People Powered Park

Share this article, or the event on Facebook to spread the word to park neighbors and fans:
https://www.facebook.com/events/163558785844747/

Hope to see you there!

Ernest James Zydeco - http://www.ejzydeco.com

"Smacks it Hard!" -Offbeat Magazine (New Orleans, Louisiana)

"Faithful to the genre with an unrelenting groove" -Living Blues Magazine (Mississippi)

"Ernest James, a singer and dazzler on accordion, delivers zydeco good times and harrowing blues" -Downbeat Magazine

New Access to the Layover Trail, with Boy Scout Help

CLICK TO WATCH: New Trail Workday with Boy Scouts

Nice Video! Members of Westport's Troop 60 helped trail steward Scott Lillis with a new trail connection.

Roanoke Park Conservancy board member Patrick Faltico reached out to our Urban Trail Co trail steward Scott Lillis with the idea for a connection to the upper trail just below W. Roanoke Drive, "The Layover." Patrick thought trail users would appreciate a connection from the top of the stairs, as an option to having to drop all the way to Karnes. They got started clearing the corridor on the morning of June 19, 2021.

Local BSA Troop members answered the call to put in some volunteer time. Conservancy board member and Jackson County Legislator Scott Burnett spent some time discussing local government with them for a merit badge requirement then met them at the trail site. Patrick had string trimmed some of the corridor and the boys helped by pulling and trimming other plants, picking up litter and moving rocks and logs. 

A videoographer from KCMO Parks was there to document the scene. Check out that great video above! We can't emphasize enough how much Roanoke Park, and all of our parks, rely on the work of volunteers.  

This wasn't the first time scouts have helped out. Another trail connection over by the Coleman Highlands Spring was the Eagle project of Ethan from Troop 16, working at that time with Brett Shoffner. In the same area, the bat boxes and the old roadbed planting were Eagle projects. Scouts have also helped multiple times with seeding efforts, most recently helping collect river oats seed last year, part of which went to KC Wildlands.

To avoid damaging trails, remember to check Urban Trail Co's Protect the Trails page before hiking or biking off road. “Rozarks” is almost always open, thanks to our rocky soil and steep slopes.

See you on the TRAILS!

South Meadow Concept: A big slide into sand, play boulders and seating, and a path behind the tennis courts along a pollinator planting.

South Meadow Concept Submitted to PIAC

Since it was founded the Roanoke Park Conservancy has worked with the parks department to seek PIAC funding for improvements throughout the park with great success. These requests have aligned with the 2011 Master Plan, and benefited from the strong support of nearby neighborhoods. The focus of the past few years has been improving the "south meadow," the lobe of the park southwest of the community center. These improvements include: renewing the tennis courts, new sidewalks, additional lighting, and entry pillars and signage.

The Roanoke Park Conservancy’s 2020 PIAC request was for further improvements to the South Meadow.

We hope to add amenities to the tennis court / playground area including: a path around the back side of the tennis courts to view the cliffs and a planned pollinator planting; and a sand play area south of the tennis courts with a naturalistic play set and a big slide coming down from the sidewalk.

Because of the unique natural setting (bluffs, caves, and springs) we feel this provides a unique and inclusive play opportunity for all ages and abilities, especially younger children in Kansas City’s urban core. More fun, and more ways to enjoy Roanoke Park. 

Click the images below to view pdf documents of the 2020 request.