News Releases
Friday, February 8, 2013 News from the City of Lawrence
(Sent: 2013-02-08 07:03:41)NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Friday, February 8, 2013 News from the City of Lawrence
1) EPA to provide Smart Growth Technical Assistance to Lawrence
2) Indoor Aquatic Center to host MAL Championships
3) Wizard of Oz theme set for upcoming Daddy/Daughter Date Night
4) City infrastructure improvement projects for the week of February 11
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Contact Information: Kris Lancaster, EPA, (913) 551-7557, lancaster.kris@epa.gov OR Eileen Horn, sustainability coordinator, (785) 832-5873, ehorn@douglas-county.com
1) EPA to provide Smart Growth Technical Assistance to Lawrence
(Lenexa, Kan.) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced that the City of Lawrence, Kan., will receive technical assistance through the Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities program. The announcement was made at the New Partners for Smart Growth Conference in Kansas City, Mo.
EPA awarded Lawrence, Kan., a Parking Audit Workshop. The workshop will provide Lawrence with key assistance to manage parking supply and demand in the Oread neighborhood. The Oread neighborhood is located in central Lawrence, with the main campus of the University of Kansas (KU) on the west and downtown Lawrence on the east. The neighborhood’s proximity to KU creates regional impacts on area streets and traffic volumes due to the daily travel to and from campus by staff and students.
“The Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities program coordinates federal investments in infrastructure and helps communities make smart planning choices,” said Karl Brooks, EPA Region 7 Administrator. “We expect the Lawrence workshop to engage residential and commercial property owners, students, faculty, city planners and others in addressing parking challenges in the Oread neighborhood.”
Across the nation, EPA awarded 43 communities with technical assistance through the Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities program. EPA selected this year’s recipients from 121 applicants through a competitive process in consultation with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Transportation. The partnership is helping communities across the country create more housing choices, make transportation more efficient and reliable, reinforce existing investments, and support vibrant and healthy neighborhoods that attract businesses.
With assistance from EPA-funded private sector experts, the communities will focus on a specific development tool, such as green building, land use strategies to protect water quality and using smart growth to produce economic and fiscal health. Communities will also learn about other strategies for development that can improve the environment and the economy.
More information on the Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities: www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/buildingblocks.htm
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2) Indoor Aquatic Center to host MAL Championships
(Lawrence, Kan.) – Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department’s Indoor Aquatic Center will be the site of the Mid-America League Championships swim meet, Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 9- 10.
The meet held at the aquatic center, 4706 Overland Drive, and sponsored by the Lawrence Aquahawks, will feature more than 450 swimmers from local Kansas youth swim clubs. Admission is free and open to the public.
Though the facility will be more crowded than usual, normal lap swim hours will be available. Lap swim hours are 9 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 to 5:45 p.m. on Sundays. However, the Diving well will not be available, but the zero-depth and children’s area will be available as scheduled, which is 1-7 p.m. Saturdays and 1-5:45 p.m. Sundays.
For more information, contact Jimmy Gibbs, aquatics manager, at (785) 832-7946.
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3) Wizard of Oz theme set for upcoming Daddy/Daughter Date Night
(Lawrence, Kan.) - Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department will host the annual Daddy/Daughter Date Night 6:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday, March 2. The event will be held at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, Building 21, 2110 Harper St.
The cost of the event is $40 for dad and one daughter. Cost for additional daughters to attend is $20. The price includes a dinner, beverages, photo, a flower and dance.
A DJ will provide music for dancing throughout the evening. Dads and daughters are encouraged to dress to mirror the theme, which is Wizard of Oz.
The deadline to register is Thursday, Feb. 21.
Registration is available online at http://www.lprd.org or at any LPRD 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.
For more information on this event, contact Jo Ellis, recreation program supervisor at (785) 832-7920.
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4) City infrastructure improvement projects for the week of February 11
(Lawrence, Kan.) - Infrastructure improvement projects for the week of February 11. Construction projects listed are now available in a map format at http://lawks.us/construction-map.
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Project: 23rd and O’Connell Signalization
Traffic Impact: Contractors for the City of Lawrence will begin completing geometric improvements to the intersection of 23rd and O’Connell Road to accommodate turn lanes and a new traffic signal. The geometric improvements began on January 30. Crews will work to rebuild the intersection of O’Connell and K-10 Highway (23rd Street) during this time. This project is associated with the redevelopment of the former Farmland Industries plant. Intersection work will be completed by March 29, 2013 but the signalization will not be completed until June 2013. Traffic on K-10/23rd Street will be reduced to one lane periodically (east and west) and the speed limit in the work zone will be set at 45 MPH.
Project: Miscellaneous Pump Station Reconstruction – Pump Station 15
Traffic Impact: EmCon, Inc. is reconstructing pump station 15 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 the pump station will impact the 200 block of North Michigan Street. Residents can expect to see construction equipment, materials, and construction activity within public right-of-way and utility easements. No access restrictions, lane closures, or detours are planned as part of this project.
Project: Crack Sealing
Traffic Impact: Crack sealing north of 6th Street in the neighborhoods east and west of Monterey Way. Temporary lane closures during working hours (weather permitting).
Project: KDOT replacement of K-10/23rd Street Bridge between Haskell and Barker
Traffic Impact: Two lanes of traffic are available in each direction. KDOT crews continue to perform work on the bridge, utility work and removal of the shooflys.
Project: 2012 Concrete Rehabilitation Program
Traffic Impact: Contractors for the City of Lawrence will continue the concrete rehabilitation program through March of 2013 (weather permitting). Concrete streets to experience traffic impacts from patching include: Nicklaus Dr, Hogan Dr, & Palmer Dr, east of Inverness Dr. 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 will be notified if access to driveways will be restricted while work is performed.
Project: Water main installation
Traffic Impact: The Utility Department will install a water main on Belle Haven Drive, from W. 25th to W 27th. The road will be closed to thru traffic and no parking Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. There is no paring in the construction area and the road will be closed to thru traffic from Monday to Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
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