Heartland Conservation Alliance partnered with Kansas City Parks and Recreation and the Blue Valley Neighborhood Association to restore forty acres of riparian forest in Blue Valley Park. The first phase of the restoration process, funded by the National Recreation and Parks Association, comes to an end this fall. We invite you to check out the progress on Saturday, September 12 from 11am to 2pm. Join a COVID-safe car resource parade starting at 23rd Street and Topping. Visit the community resource stations along the way and receive a backpack with supplies and nature-based learning activities for the family. Participate in a safe nature-based hike while wearing a mask. Explore the restored woodland and search for ripe Paw-Paws.
The KC Parks Board learned about the Blue Valley Park restoration progress at their August 27 public meeting. HCA along with Nancy Simons from the Blue Valley Neighborhood Association and Habitat Architects presented the work as well as future plans to continue collaborative efforts to restore natural areas in Blue Valley Park.
(Left) Ryan Bath of Habitat Architects presents the updated restoration plan for Blue Valley Park to the KC Parks Board. (Right) Residents of the neighborhood can now measure their growth alongside a newly-planted native tree at the park.
HCA presented Renew the Blue to the Waldo-Brookside Rotary Club in August. The Club learned about the Blue River and the neighborhood connection to the watershed as well as steps they can take to improve their local environment.
If you would like to have HCA present to your group, please contact Jill@heartlandconservationalliance.org.
HCA Partnership Work Group is planning a safe Annual Partnership Summit. Partnership Work Group volunteers are spearheading the effort to survey Alliance members at the Partnership Summit to ensure our work as an Alliance is relevant, effectively engaging and empowering. The Annual Partnership Survey informs the Partnership Work Group’s goals and plans for the future.
The next Partnership Work Group meeting will be Tuesday, October 6, from 5:30 to 7pm.
If you would like to be involved in the Work Group, please contact HCA's Partnership Coordinator, Natasha Karsk: natasha@heartlandconservationalliance.org or 816-407-8088.