News Releases
Friday, August 31, 2012 News from the City of Lawrence
(Sent: 2012-08-31 07:00:53)NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Friday, August 31, 2012 News from the City of Lawrence
1) Lawrence Recreation Centers locked in “Energy Smackdown”
2) Organwise Guys program teaches healthy nutrition, activity
3) City infrastructure improvement projects for the week of September 3
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1) Lawrence Recreation Centers locked in “Energy Smackdown”
(Lawrence, Kan.) – For the past month, staff of the Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department’s recreation centers have been locked in a building-to-building competition to save energy. Dubbed the “Energy Smackdown,” this lighthearted, energy-saving contest is yielding serious savings and has become a close competition.
Staff at the three recreation centers (East Lawrence Recreation Center, 1245 E. 15th St., Holcom Park Recreation Center, 2700 W. 27th St. and the Community Building, 115 W. 11th St.) focused on simple changes to reduce energy use to bring about impressive results.
With only one month of the three month contest complete, the recreation centers’ staff has saved over 9,000 kWh of electricity. That’s enough energy to power nine average homes for a month, and saves as many greenhouse gas emissions as planting 157 trees.
Thus far, East Lawrence Recreation Center is the facility with the most energy savings, having reduced energy usage by 12-percent over last year. However, the Community Building and Holcom Park Recreation Center are not far behind, having reduced usage by 5.5-percent and 5.2-percent, respectively.
How did they do it? Staff focused on the following simple changes:
· Turning out the lights when rooms are unoccupied.
· Plugging chargers, fans, DVD players, TVs, and miscellaneous appliances into powerstrips.
· Turning off exercise equipment, TVs, etc. when not in use.
· Syncing their programmable thermostats to their class schedules (keeping rooms cool when they need it, but not running the AC when rooms are empty).
About the Smackdown: The “Energy Smackdown” was created in 2011 when the Lawrence-Douglas County Fire/Medical Department firefighters and staff at all five fire/med stations competed in an energy-saving race. This year, the staff of the community’s three recreation centers are competing. The recreation center that reduces its electricity usage the most between July-September will receive prizes, and of course, bragging rights. The winning recreation center will be determined based on a percentage improvement over 2011. The station with the largest percentage reduction in electricity use will be declared the winner.
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2) Organwise Guys program teaches healthy nutrition, activity
(Lawrence, Kan.) – Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department is offering a program for young people to learn the essentials of good health.
Fit-Trition Fun with the OrganWise Guys will be offered as a parent/child participation class and is open to children 3 years-old to 5 years-old. The program will integrate the OrganWise Guys into this health education program to help children build healthy habits by learning about their organs and what they can do to keep them healthy. Topics will include: an introduction to fruits and vegetables, bone health and germs. Lessons will be taught through the use of the OrganWise Guys characters, story books, interactive games, exercises and songs.
The month-long program will have two sessions available 10:30-11:15 a.m. and 2-2:45 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, Oct. 2-25. Other month-long sessions will be offered at the same times and days, Nov. 6-Dec. 6. Cost of the program is $20 per session.
Enrollment in the program may be done online at www.lprd.org or by visiting a Lawrence Parks and Recreation facility, including: the Community Building, 115 West 11th St.; East Lawrence Recreation Center, 1245 East 15th St.; Holcom Park Recreation Center, 2700 West 27th St.; Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center, 4706 Overland Drive; Prairie Park Nature Center, 2730 Harper St. or the Administrative Offices in South Park, 1141 Massachusetts St.
The OrganWise Guys is an interactive science-based education program that uses characters based on the organs of the body to teach children about nutrition. The OrganWise Guys program was introduced to Parks and Recreation through a grant they received in May from the National Recreation and Park Association through the Kansas Health Foundation.
For more information, please contact Roger Steinbrock, marketing supervisor, at rsteinbrock@lawrenceks.org or (785) 832-3450.
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3) City infrastructure improvement projects for the week of September 3
(Lawrence, Kan.) - Infrastructure improvement projects for the week of September 3. NEW! Our construction projects listed are now available in a map format at http://lawks.us/construction-map.
Project: KDOT K-10 Resurfacing Project
Traffic Impact: KDOT is resurfacing an 8.43-mile section of K-10 from the I-70/Kansas Turnpike Lecompton interchange south to the US-59 interchange in Lawrence (Douglas County). Project work includes patching of existing pavement, milling at ramps and bridge approaches, application of a 3/4-inch new asphalt layer on the existing mainline pavement, and the application of a chip seal on the shoulders, followed by all new pavement markings. The resurfacing project will smooth the road and fill surface defects that can shorten pavement life. Work will take place during daylight hours from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with some occasional Saturday work. The project is suspended until Monday, September 10, when resurfacing work on the mainline lanes will begin. Advance notification will be sent out under separate cover when the project resumes.
Traffic will be directed through the project work zone via signage, cones and a pilot car and flagger operation. Drivers should expect delays of up to 15 minutes maximum and are encouraged to use alternate routes, if possible. There will be a posted speed limit of 55 mph and a 12-foot lane width restriction through the project work zone during working hours. No oversized or supersized loads will be allowed through the project work zone. Note: No traffic impacts or project work will take place on University of Kansas home game days in Lawrence. Updated traffic information for this project can be viewed online at: www.ksdot.org/topekametro/laneclose.asp.
Project: KDOT replacement of K-10/23rd Street Bridge between Haskell and Barker
Traffic Impact: Traffic on 23rd Street, between Barker and Haskell Avenues, has been shifted to utilize the shoofly detours on the north and south section of the roadway. Two lanes are available in each direction on the detours but traffic will be noticeably slower and speeds must be reduced on the detours.
Advance message boards will alert drivers to the lane closures. Drivers should expect major delays during peak travel times. Updated traffic information for the K-10/23rd Street bridge replacement project can be viewed online: www.ksdot.org/topekametro/laneclose.asp.
Project: 2012 Microsurfacing Program
Traffic Impact: Contractors for the City of Lawrence will be performing Asphalt Patching in Phase D locations, generally bound by Monterey Way to Wakarusa Dr & Harvard Rd to Inverness Dr/BBPW beginning in late August followed by microsurfacing (if microsurfacing does not occur this season, it will be planned for Spring 2013). For patching and microsurfacing locations, through traffic in both directions will be generally maintained throughout the project with flaggers, traffic control devices, and signage. There is a possibility of street closures on residential streets only, if necessary. Please see the following link for mapped work locations for the entire street maintenance program for 2012: http://lawrenceks.org/public_works/files/2012_comprehensive_street_maintenance.pdf.
Project: 2012 Overlay Program Phase 2
Traffic Impact: Contractor for the City of Lawrence began mill & overlay/ curb & gutter program on Monday, July 9, 2012. This week’s projects include the following streets: Phase A & B locations: streets located in the area generally bound by W 6th St to the north and east and west of Michigan St. These areas will see traffic impacts from some curb and gutter repairs, milling, patching, and overlay work. Through traffic in both directions will be generally maintained throughout the project with flaggers, traffic control devices and signage. There is a possibility of street closures, if necessary, especially during the day(s) of asphalt overlay. Residences and businesses will be notified if access to driveways will be restricted while work is performed. Please see the following link for mapped work locations for the entire street maintenance program for 2012: http://lawrenceks.org/public_works/files/2012_comprehensive_street_maintenance.pdf.
Project: 2012 Concrete Rehabilitation Program
Traffic Impact: Contractors for the City of Lawrence began the concrete rehabilitation program on Monday, April 30, 2012. Concrete streets to experience traffic impacts from patching include: N 3rd St from Elm St to Lincoln St, Lincoln St and Perry St from N 2nd St to N 3rd St. Through traffic in both directions will be generally maintained throughout the project with flaggers, traffic control devices and signage. There is a possibility of street closures, if necessary. Residences and businesses will be notified if access to driveways will be restricted while work is performed. Please see the following link for mapped work locations for the entire street maintenance program for 2012: http://lawrenceks.org/public_works/files/2012_comprehensive_street_maintenance.pdf.
Project: Levee trail detour for power plant expansion
Traffic Impact: A portion of the Kansas River levee trail has been closed for the construction of the Bowersock Mills & Power Co.’s new plant on the north bank of the Kansas River. A detour on the trail will take users from the trail to city streets crossing at the controlled intersection of 2ndand Locust Streets. Signage will be clearly posted marking the detour route to direct users throughout the detour. The city urges drivers and trail users to use caution when travelling through the intersection. The detour will run for the duration of the project, which is projected to last 20 months (starting April 2011). For more information, contact the Lawrence Parks and Recreation Administrative Office, at (785) 832-3450.
Project: Lawrence Municipal Airport sanitary sewer improvements
Traffic Impact: No impacts at this time, construction activities are currently on hold.
Project: Miscellaneous Pump Station Reconstruction
Traffic Impact: EmCon, Inc. is reconstructing pump stations 35 and 37 and decommissioning pump station 28 as part of City project No. UT0919CS. The work involves the installation of gravity and force main sanitary sewer lines and pump station facilities. Work on pump stations 28 and 35 will impact Sandpiper Drive, North Michigan Street, Pike’s Peek Place, and Riverridge Road. Residents can expect to see construction equipment, materials, and construction activity within public right-of-way and utility easements. Work on pump station 37 will impact East 1500 Road from Elmwood Street to the pump station site located approximately 900 feet east of Lindenwood Lane. Residents can expect to see construction equipment, materials, and construction activity within the public right-of-way and utility easements. No access restrictions, lane closures, or detours are planned as part of this project.
Project: Wimbledon Drive Watermain Replacement
Traffic Impact: Westland Construction, Inc. is replacing the watermain on Wimbledon Drive from Inverness Drive to Crossgate Drive. Access to Wimbledon Drive from Inverness Drive may be limited to a single lane as necessary to install the new watermain but will remain open throughout construction. Access to Wimbledon Terrace and Wimbledon Circle from Wimbledon Drive will be maintained during construction, however, this access may be limited to a single location from Wimbledon Drive as necessary to complete the installation of the new watermain and make connections to the existing system at these intersections. Access to private driveways will be maintained throughout construction.
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