Leawood's New Park: City Hall's Farewell

0:00It's May 1st. Kansas News Today starts now, AI-powered and ready. Lee Woods pushing ahead with tearing down the old City Hall to build a fresh park on that nearly four-acre spot at 96th Street and Lee, Boulevard. The plan packs in open space, two playgrounds for different age groups, and a demonstration garden while saving the old fire station for a makeover. North Lee Woods folks have been fighting for years to boost walkability up there in Johnson County, turning this site into a community gym. Some pushed hard to repurpose City Hall as a hub, maybe with a coffee and ice cream spot to draw people in. And Monday night City Council meeting, residents made one final plea, but Council members shot it down. They pointed out the building set empty for 30 years, with no real reuse plans or grants lined up. Instead, they're eyeing food trucks from partners like Kona Ice and Tom's traveling coffee to fill that activation roll. Council narrated to two park layouts, both ditching City Hall, but sprucing up the fire

1:00station with a kitchenette, concessions, restrooms, and a new patio. They leaned toward parking on the south side and the garden on the west by Lee Boulevard, plus tweaking a walking trail for better homeowner buffers. Expect tweaks from feedback, then an open house on May 12th from 5.30 to 7pm at the wave, planning commission on May 26th at 6. And final Council vote, June 15th at 7pm, all wrapping this north side up great soon.