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Home Plans Master Plan

New Trees Planted!

Created: 24 May 2015
Updated: 27 February 2018
Published: 24 May 2015
Written by Native
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Click for a popup gallery of images of our new trees!Click for a popup gallery of images of our new trees!

New trees are being planted in the park, at the Karnes playground and the sledding hill.

The Karnes playground has been a huge hit for Roanoke Park and its visitors. One complaint that has been heard however is that there can be a lack of shade on sunny days and the equipment can get quite hot. To address that concern, the Roanoke Park Conservancy's playground committee requested this past fall that more trees be planted by the parks department. Rachel Porter, Lance Klein and Chris DeLong worked together to pick the most desirable trees from the city's "contract planting list." Two fast growing and tall trees were chosen for the south side of the playground, where they could provide the most shade in the fewest number of years: a Northern Red Oak, and a Tuliptree (Tulip Poplar). A Sugar Maple was planted not far from the swing set, a Black Tupelo near the "council ring," and a Serviceberry near the boulders and sand. Lance's plan also calls for a White Oak closer to Karnes and a Caddo Maple north of the playground, but those have yet to be planted. Most of these selections are Missouri native trees with high wildlife value and all are handsome trees. We can hear the birds singing already!

Additionally, Lance and Chris requested that more trees be planted to replace those that have fallen or are in declining condition around the "sledding hill" west of Karnes. Two of those have already been planted, both Bur Oaks. North of the small blue swingset, a Bur Oak fell a couple years ago and you can still see the trunk and up-ended roots. Then recently a large White Oak fell not far away, blocking the trail until its rotted trunk was chain sawed out of the way. The trees on either side of the blue swingset are White Oaks that appear to be in decline. Lance and Chris requested that "replacement trees" be planted now near those two. Also requested was a Chinkapin Oak near Karnes, near where the stump is still visible from one of the parks old sentries that came down in 2011-12. 

New Trees in the Park

Red Oak, Quercus rubra — 60–90’ tall. Fastest growing oak. Common in Roanoke Park's forest interior, on the middle shelf. Not super long lived (100-125 yrs).

White Oak, Quercus alba — 60-90’ tall. The park needs more of them since our largest ones are not in great health. Wide canopied large trees with deeply divided leaves and large acorns.

Sugar Maple , Acer sacharum 'Legacy'— 40-80’ tall. Dense shade and shallow roots tend to prevent grass from growing beneath them. Gorgeous fall color (see the big one north of Karnes, east of the spring).

"Caddo Maple", Acer sacharum ‘Autumn Splendor’ — 30-60' tall. Very good fall color, drought tolerant.

Tuliptree, Liriodendron tulipifera — 60-90’ tall. Fast growing. Not very valuable to wildlife. Not native to our part of the state but grows well. Attractive blooms.

Black Tupelo, Nyssa sylvatica ‘Afterburner Tupelo’ –– 30-40' tall. Nice shape (pyramidal when young) and glossy leaves. Its native range is only a few counties away. Also called Black Gum or Sour Gum, for the edible, but sour berries. 

Serviceberry, Amelanchier laevis ‘JFS-Arb’ — 20-30' tall. Nice white spring flowers, edible berries, fall color. This is a single trunk selection of the east of the Mississippi species, also sold as 'Spring Flurry.' (Our local serviceberry species is Amelanchier arborea. A few exist within the park.)

Trees for the sledding hill include White Oak (detailed above), and...

Bur Oak, Quercus macrocarpa — 60-80’ tall. May be slow growing but grows into a large muscular tree. The twigs, often with corky bark extensions, are thick to support the golf ball sized acorns (largest of all oaks). 

Chinkapin Oak, Quercus muhlenbergii — 40-60' tall. Most common oak in the park. Not as tall or fast growing as red oak, but has a beautiful semi-open wide crown and ‘gnarly’ branches. Squirrels go into a feeding frenzy on the acorns and gobble them into bits. Very long lived. (Chinkapins on Blue River Glade near Swope Park have been dated at over 200 years old. The larger ones in Roanoke Park are almost certainly as old.)

2017 Trees Link 2. 2017 Trees Link 3. 2017 Trees Link 4.

Roanoke Park PARTY at Prospero's!

Created: 30 March 2014
Updated: 02 September 2014
Published: 30 March 2014
Written by Native
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Park Party 2014

Roanoke Park PARTY was a great success

March 28, 2014 at Prospero's Uptown Books

Just ONE way to enjoy Roanoke Park in 2014. Click for the rest of the 14 in '14 gallery.Just ONE way to enjoy Roanoke Park in 2014. Click for the rest of the 14 in '14 gallery.About 85 adults (plus a few of their kids) had FUN and got an update on the NEW Playgrounds in Roanoke Park at this free event. Decorating the windows were fourteen ways to have fun in Roanoke Park in 2014. Check out the 14 in '14 gallery here or on facebook.com/RoanokeParkKC. All enjoyed the free food and drinks, socializing and listening to some great music afterwards. Several exciting announcements were made:

RPC board director Scott Burnett got it started by thanking those who made the event possible: Prospero's Uptown Books, Papa Murphy's Pizza, Boulevard Beer, Shannon and the Rhythm King Band, and the many Roanoke Park Conservancy (RPC) volunteers and donors.

Here are images of the new playsets we'll be receiving. Click for a blow up. (©gametime.com)Here are images of the new playsets we'll be receiving. Click for a blow up. (©gametime.com)RPC board secretary Randy Moore outlined just a few of the positive steps our donations, hard work and City cooperation and funding have made possible in Roanoke Park as part of the long term Master Plan: removing tons of shrub honeysuckle, building new sidewalks and stairs, building the Bio Swale and (getting the most applause,) the Trails. He also announced a couple of new Master Plan items to look for in 2014. Better pedestrian lighting is to be installed to complement the new sidewalks. Also on the lighting front, the big bluff columns at the intersection of Karnes and Roanoke Boulevard will be enhanced with some tasteful up-lighting.

RPC Playground Task Force leader Rachel Porter gave an update on plans for replacing the north playground on Karnes with a creative and innovative playground as conceived by the Playground Charrette in January. She announced that $75,000 in PIAC money was officially earmarked for the project, giving the fundraising for this endeavor a major kick start. Rachel called up Gavin Snider of Hufft Projects to note how Hufft and the task force continue to develop plans for this playground.

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Playgrounds Brainstorming Session

Created: 09 January 2014
Updated: 01 April 2014
Published: 09 January 2014
Written by Native
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Roanoke Park Playgrounds Brainstorming Session garners immediate RESULTS

Playground Charrette participants enjoying the creative ideas presented during the wrap up session. Click for a blowup.Playground Charrette participants enjoying the creative ideas presented during the wrap up session. Click for a blowup.

A message from Rachel Porter (Coleman Highlands) & Lindsay Severns (Roanoke)
Roanoke Park Playgrounds Task Force:

The Playgrounds Brainstorming Session was a great success. Nearly 60 interested neighbors and park fans attended the charrette on January 18th at the Westport Roanoke Community Center. Parks Department head Mark McHenry came, along with landscape architect Heather Runkel and superintendent Forest Decker. Gavin and Dan from Hufft Projects helped facilitate the meeting along with Playgrounds Task Force leaders Rachel Porter and Lindsay Severns.

Did we say Results?

We're happy to announce that Parks and Rec has given the charrette exercise some instant feedback in the form of directing new playground equipment to be installed this spring in Roanoke Park! It will replace the oldest play equipment which is by the tennis courts.

The Playgroung QuestionWe are assured that accepting this equipment for the tennis court location will not affect future funding for a re-imagined Karnes location playground. We heard you loud and clear and we want to make our Karnes site one of great creativity and beauty. We are very grateful for the fast response of Parks and Rec by giving Roanoke Park new equipment to serve our 2 - 12 population. It will be something our kids can play on this spring/summer!  We have tentatively been slated for some funding for Karnes and we will update you when we have more information.

Have more to add or want to be involved? Contact Rachel and Lindsay: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

How do you see yourself using Roanoke Park’s playgrounds in the future?

This question was asked at the brainstorming session and here are the results. Click the image to download a pdf with a bit more info. (Thanks to Hufft Projects for compiling the data and producing the pdf.

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Let's Talk: Ecological Restoration / Master Plan

Created: 20 August 2013
Updated: 13 October 2015
Published: 20 August 2013
Written by Native
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Roanoke Park Conservancy Endorses $1 Million Ecological Restoration Master Plan

The original Roanoke Park Master Plan was endorsed by KCMO Parks and Recreation on October 26, 2011. Now we are pleased to announce that the Roanoke Park Conservancy Board this month approved a document detailing progress thus far and adding a great deal of detail to the PLANS. This puts us even closer to achieving the goals of the Master Plan. Continue reading to see how you can get a copy of the Roanoke Park Master Plan Progress Report including an Ecological Restoration Master Plan.

Ecological Restoration Plan

The Master Plan is the guiding document used by the KCMO Parks Department and the Roanoke Park Conservancy Board in bringing new activities, amenities and capital improvements to the park. The new Progress Report includes capital accomplishments to date made possible by PIAC grants and private donations, projects already under contract, and future plans awaiting funding.

AND, the Progress Report includes an ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION MASTER PLAN for all the Park's treasured woods. This restoration plan fleshes out goals contained in the 2011 Master Plan and envisions a ten-year, $1 Million+ restoration of the park's woods, glades and springs to the "bit of wilderness" described in 1907. The 28 page report is available for download from this website.

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More Articles ...

  1. Master Plan Progress and Ecological Restoration Plan
  2. Fund Created for "Roanoke Lookout"
  3. Master Plan Approved!
  4. Master Plan Aerial

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COVID INFO

To reduce the spread of coronavirus, a mask order is in effect as of July 12, 2020. A mask is required both inside and outside when unable to maintain social distancing. Please enjoy the park responsibly by spreading out. The Westport-Roanoke Community Center is open but with limited access. Please click their link above for the latest info. Here are KCMO Parks Dept. COVID-19 Updates and the latest KCMO COVID-19 updates from the city. 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.)

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