In This Issue
BSPD hosts summer camps
Blue Springs Point of View
New playground at Ward Park to open July 11
East Forty Brewing Ribbon Cutting
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Community Portrait Project
Local photographer Jaime Russell of Anthem Photography has been embarking on a community portrait project. "Local Focus" is a portrait collection showcasing the incredible individuals, organizations, and services that help our city function and thrive. The goal of this project is to further strengthen our community by telling the stories of the great people who are dedicated to positivity, progress, and making Blue Springs a wonderful place to live, grow, and connect with one another.  I was honored to be chosen as Jaime's most recent interview subject. Visit the website to view my interview and also check out Jaime's other subjects - including the entire City of Blue Springs Public Works Department! 

Public Art Reception
Members of the  Public  Art  Commission  and past council  liaison, Jerry 
Kaylor with one of the artists of  the Capricious exhibit, Will Vannerson at the "Capricious"  Public Art reception on June 21. 

Artist Will Vannerson, who created Borbor 6.1, spoke at the Capricious Reception on June 21. 

On June 21 the Blue Springs Public Art Commission held a reception for "Capricious," the 2018-19 Temporary Public Art Exhibit. The exhibit features four pieces of public art located along Adams Dairy Parkway. This year. we were fortunate that one of the artists, Will Vannerson, was able to attend the reception. Vannerson discussed his artwork, Borbor 6.1, and why he thinks the Blue Springs Public Art program is important. 

All four pieces of art in the Capricious exhibit will be on display until March 19. 

Jack Gilliland Tree Dedication
The City of Blue Springs and the Blue Springs Parks and Recreation Department planted the Jack Gilliland Memorial Tree on June 25 in the presence of Mayor Carson Ross, City Councilmembers Ron Fowler and Dale Carter, and the Jack Gilliland Family in honor of Jack's service on the Parks Commission from 2006 to 2017. The tree is located at James Walker School Park. 
 
City hosts blood drive during emergency shortage
The City collected 23 total units of blood on Monday July 2 during the community blood drive with the Community Blood Center of Greater Kansas City. Thank you to all the City employees and citizens of Blue Springs who registered to donate. 
 
BSPD hosts Life Sports and Girls on Fire

 Life Sports

New this year, the Blue Springs Police Department  hosted  Life Sports, a weeklong day camp geared for middle school boys. The first session was held June 18- 22 and featured guest speakers including police officers and former NFL players. The boys learned about leadership, sportsmanship, and character building. The second session will be held July 9-13.

  Girls on Fire
 

The Blue Springs Police Department's Girls on Fire camp is in it's 6th year. Girls on Fire is a summer camp for girls in grades 6-12 that teaches leadership, confidence and self defense tactics among other lessons. The first session of Girls on Fire was held June 4-8 and the second session begins July 30. 


 City Government on CTV-7
 
Check out what's new and going on in Blue Springs by watching the monthly Blue Springs Point of View (POV) episodes. You can also stay informed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by tuning into CTV-7 on Comcast Cable channel 7 or AT&T U-verse Channel 99.

To watch videos of past Blue Springs events, check out the City's YouTube page by 

City of Blue Springs
News Happenings
Around Town
A monthly message from your
Blue Springs Mayor and City Council
Hello Blue Springs, I hope you are having a great summer. As usual, there is a lot going on in our beautiful city and I hope you've had a chance to join in on some of the fun. 

Most recently, we had the honor of celebrating Independence Day. As you will see in this newsletter, I was at the annual Red, White and Blue Springs Celebration that is hosted by our Parks and Recreation Department. Some of you chose to celebrate with your own fireworks.  There are always some outliers who don't follow the rules, but by and large, our citizens are thoughtful and courteous and chose to celebrate legally and safely this year. So thank you for being good neighbors and I hope you had a safe and happy Independence Day. 

I hope you enjoy this latest newsletter and a s always, please continue sharing this timely publication and spreading the word about the good things in the City of Blue Springs.  There are a lot of exciting things happening around our beautiful City.
City Celebrates Independence Day with Red, White & Blue Springs 



The Blue Springs Parks and Recreation Department and country radio station KFKF sponsored the  annual Red, White and Blue Springs free concert and fireworks show July 4 at the Blue Springs High School Stadium. The concert featured artists Michael Dale and Monica Pearce. 

Thank you for joining us there, or watching from afar. And if you celebrated at home, thank you for following the fireworks ordinances and being smart and safe this year. 
Ward Park Playground to Open July 11
Blue Springs Parks and Recreation Department will celebrate the Grand Opening of its newest playground at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 11 at Ward Park, 1000 SW 22nd St.
 
"We are excited to provide a new nature-themed playground for our residents to experience as part of the Parks Sales Tax program approved by voters in April 2017," said Dennis Dovel, director of Blue Springs Parks and Recreation. "The support of our community to improve our park systems allows us to make improvements like the Ward Park Playground and allows us to provide great experiences to get our community out to 'Play Naturally' with Blue Springs Parks and Recreation."
 
Ward Park's new playground features a rock structure that allows children to explore many different fossils, animals and insects. The playground also has outdoor musical instruments incorporated into the design along with a large shade structure over a portion of the play equipment. The musical instruments provide an added level of fun for children and adults who visit Ward Park.
 
Many community members may be unfamiliar with Ward Park, located off Highway 40 and 22nd street. But Mayor Carson Ross expects that to change with the opening of this new playground. 
 
"This new playground will be a destination for families throughout the community," Ross said. "As we make good on the promises we made with regards to the Park Sales Tax, we continue to improve the quality of life for all Blue Springs residents. And most importantly, we enable families to make memories at our beautiful parks." 
 
The city funded Ward Park's $331,995 playground through money from the ½-cent Parks Sales Tax that voters approved in 2017. 
 
Other Parks Sales Tax projects slated for completion this summer are the tennis courts at Blue Springs Park and Pink Hill Park, Woods Chapel Park Trail, Duncan Road Trail and Baumgardner Park Trail.

 
Ribbon Cutting - East Forty Brewing

Council members Dale Carter, Susan Culpepper, Chris Lievsay and myself were honored to help celebrate the opening of the newest Downtown Blue Springs Business, East Forty Brewing on June 27 with the Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the Business
 
What's Happening in Blue Springs
These events are free and open to the public.

July 11: Ward Park Playground Grand Opening - 5 p.m.
Join us for the grand opening of the newest playground. 

July 14: Second Saturdays Car Cruise - Downtown Blue Springs
Bring the family out to view the latest innovations in car restoration. 5 p.m. until dark. 

August 3: Movie in the Park by Blue Springs Parks and Recreation - The Incredibles
Free family movie begins at 7:30 p.m. at Rotary Park

Let's Move! Saturdays

Farmers Market
Downtown Blue Springs 7 a.m. to Noon

Every Sunday through August:
Music in the Park, Rotary Park, 6-8 p.m.

I hope you have found this issue of News Happenings Around Town to be both informative and timely for your City information needs. Is there anything we missed? Do you have questions about any of the articles from this issue? Share your thoughts with me and the City Council by calling City Hall at (816) 228-0110. Know that we truly value your time and support of our City and hope you join us for the next issue of News Happenings
 
Sincerely,
 
 Ross sig
Carson Ross, Mayor
City of Blue Springs
Our
Mission 
The City of Blue Springs is a unique community where families, visitors and businesses share a special quality of life and an abundant spirit of community closeness and cooperation. 

 

Our number one goal is to ensure that our residents, visitors and patrons receive quality customer service and attention with every program and service the City provides. Just as you stand by a community that strives to meet your family's needs, we promise to do our best to meet these needs and anticipate what's best for you and our community, to the best of our ability.