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Roanoke Park FEST

Created: 08 August 2023
Updated: 19 September 2023
Published: 23 August 2023
Written by Native
Hits: 25
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Come to the Roanoke Park FEST
Sunday October 1st, 4 pm to 7 pm

Roanoke Park FEST, October 9th

FREE MUSIC: Jill Westra & Them KC Boys!
FOOD TRUCK: Miranda's Mexican Food Truck! (Facebook)
ICE CREAM: Palacana cart!
FAMILY FUN!

Location: Across from the Westport Roanoke Community Center

Palacana ice cream cartIt's time for another park party! Let's enjoy a beautiful evening in the park together, chatting in the south meadow, listening to music, and having some delicious food truck food and ice cream. Or bring your own picnic food, blanket or chairs to enjoy the evening. Rock 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/1644383849381756/

Free concert by Midtown favorites Jill Westra & Them KC Boys!

Kansas City-based, woman-fronted, full band with their fingers in a number of musical pies. Their catalog of original tunes draws on Jill’s influences that include Texas singer-songwriters such as Robert Earl Keen, as well as 1960s Bakersfield and Memphis blues. In August 2019, the band (as a trio) released an EP entitled “so_low” that will take you on a grass rootsy, acoustic-yet-gutsy trek through four up-tempo foot-stompers, heavy on chutzpah. Playing live, you can expect extra electric guitar added to the bash for even more oomph.

Jill Westra & Them KC Boys

Hope to see you there!

The photography of Jim Robinson

Created: 20 June 2023
Updated: 21 June 2023
Published: 20 June 2023
Written by Administrator
Hits: 206
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Jim Robinson Photography, as seen in Roanoke Park

Photographer Jim Robinson takes inspiration from the natural scenes he captures in Roanoke Park. Then he transforms them into images with a density, depth and mystery seen through the heart and soul as well as the eyes. Enjoy this gallery of his Roanoke Park images, then head to his website for more of his work and to purchase limited edition signed prints: theasseen.com. 

  • The yellow tree  / original at theasseen.com

    the yellow tree x1440
    the yellow tree x1440
  • Exactly  / original at theasseen.com

    img 9033 caution lighter yellow w moonx1080
    img 9033 caution lighter yellow w moonx1080
  • Good morning  / original at theasseen.com

    sunset in woods aka good morning x1440b
    sunset in woods aka good morning x1440b
  • Branching out  / original at theasseen.com

    branching out x1440
    branching out x1440
  • Crossing guard  / original at theasseen.com

    crossing guard x1080
    crossing guard x1080
  • I stand alone.  / original at theasseen.com

    img green tree in roanoke x1080b
    img green tree in roanoke x1080b
  • Here Comes the Sun  / original at theasseen.com

    here comes the sun x1440b
    here comes the sun x1440b
the yellow tree x1440
img 9033 caution lighter yellow w moonx1080
sunset in woods aka good morning x1440b
branching out x1440
crossing guard x1080
img green tree in roanoke x1080b
here comes the sun x1440b


    Many more Roanoke Park images can be seen at theasseen.com. Jim walks through the park on a daily basis with his eyes always open to new inspiration.

     

    Roanoke Park Trees and Trails

    Created: 13 March 2023
    Updated: 14 March 2023
    Published: 14 March 2023
    Written by Native
    Hits: 376
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    Click for the Roanoke Park Trees and Trails Google MapClick for the Roanoke Park Trees and Trails Google MapExplore Roanoke Park’s trails and help find the biggest trees in the park!

    Roanoke Park's volunteer naturalist Chris DeLong has combined data from the 2012 tree inventory with lots of on-the-ground scouting to produce a custom Google Map you can use to explore the park. The trail paths on this map are more accurate and complete than can be found anywhere else. Markers for the park’s largest trees and others have been added to the map with each containing ID and info in a popup. Links to Missouri Botanical Garden pages are included (but are only clickable on desktop browsers).

    Enjoy the trails and go find those trees!
    Roanoke Park Trees and Trails
    https://maps.app.goo.gl/h3p9QqMunanr4CVq5?g_st=ic

    You can help improve this map by finding the trees and emailing Chris at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with discrepancies. Some of the 2012 champions may have fallen down, or were misidentified initially. While the 2012 Tree Inventory was a snapshot in time, we’ll try to continually update this map with your help.

    Click for a video explaining Roanoke Park Trees and TrailsClick for a video explaining Roanoke Park Trees and TrailsEven in just the process of rolling out this map several corrections and discoveries have been made. The 2012 second place chinkapin oak is now the park champion, after the former champ apparently got hit by lightning. Yikes! (It looks like it is trying to survive, despite dead stripes down two sides.) The old champ is west of Karnes, and the new champ is by the paw paw patch above the brick road, right above the lower trail. Also it looks like we have a kind of Hickory tree we didn't know about. The champion "hickory" in 2012 appears to be a Shellbark Hickory, Carya laciniosa. That species is also called Kingnut, for having the largest of all hickory nuts. We'll try to beat the critters to some to help confirm the identification.

    You could also add tree observations to iNaturalist if good ID pictures can be taken, adding to our Roanoke Park Biodiversity Project: inaturalist.org/projects/roanoke-park-biodiversity What are good ID pictures? More than one, clear and hopefully focussing on distinguising characteristics: the "key things" that separate a tree species from close relatives. If you don't know and are learning, take a variety! iNaturalist lets you upload four photos initially, but then you can keep hitting the + icon and adding more. Bark, leaves, flowers, fruit or seeds, twigs, winter buds - all can show useful ID characters.

     

    Honoring Judy Widener

    Created: 05 May 2018
    Updated: 17 January 2019
    Published: 05 July 2018
    Written by Native
    Hits: 6220
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    In memory of Judy Widener, founder of Dance in the Park

    Judy Widener memorial tree. Click for a gallery of images.Judy Widener memorial tree. Click for a gallery of images.

    A native serviceberry memorial tree was planted in the spring of 2018 by the parks department within view of the current location of Dance in the Park. Enjoy the blooms it has in spring and its elegance in all seasons, and give thanks for neighbors who add beauty and life to the park. A multi-trunked serviceberry was chosen for it's delicate features. Can a tree dance?

    (2018's drought conditions haven't been kind to this new tree but we believe it will bounce back.)

    Here's a memorial page from Bridging the Gap with more information about Judy. 

    Our Pledge to Roanoke Park

    Created: 25 July 2010
    Updated: 30 August 2012
    Published: 25 August 2010
    Written by Native
    Hits: 9525
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    Roanoke Park is an important historical Kansas City asset. Its value is greatest to its closest residents. Time and neglect have taken a toll on our neighborhood park. The wooded ravines have lost important trees and the rugged cliffs have become hidden by invasive plants. The park's beauty has become marred. Comparing old photos with more recent ones confirms that the park is not as enticing as it once was.

    Even when Kansas City was not in such dire financial straits, city resources for the park have been sparse. Many neighborhood parks are being recognized for their value as neighborhood assets and sanctuaries of peacefulness in urban areas. This trend is sweeping the nation and the globe as neighborhood groups join together to support local parks that have suffered from urban decay and government neglect.

    Our efforts on behalf of Roanoke Park are a public/private partnership initiative to honor the history and plant the future of Roanoke Park. We do this for the betterment of our city, and especially the neighborhoods that share Roanoke Park.

    DONATE NOW

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    TRAIL INFO

    Trail Maps, in various formats: 

    Roanoke_Park_Trails.pdf (417 kb).

    Roanoke Park Trees and Trails Google Map

    "Roanoke Park Tour" on MTBProject.com

    To avoid damaging trails, check Trail Status before biking or hiking off road. ("Rozarks" = Roanoke Park's 2.5 miles plus Rosedale's 3.5 miles.)

    Contact the Westport-Roanoke Community Center to find out about their facilities or inquire about reserving spaces. 

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