On September 30, I will finish my third and final term as the President of Ward Parkway Homes Association. Having been on the board for four years, I have had the opportunity to see the Association grow in many ways that may not be apparent to all of our members:
All of these actions had one goal in mind, to provide a stronger and more successful organization for the residents of Ward Parkway Homes.
In the past two years, because of the dedication of board members and residents, the Association has continued to function and provide a variety of events despite the prevalence of a deadly pandemic and a challenging financial atmosphere. We did not stop. Our goal was to provide community, and we did that. I am very proud of our efforts and I am very honored to have met many of our residents that participated in those events. Thank you!
There is one goal I must leave behind for all of us to work towards. Ward Parkway Homes Association has gifted board members and gifted residents. We live in a vibrant area and there are so many amazing people who live here. It is my hope that we continue to grow in membership, coming together to build a stronger, more inclusive community that deepens the connections of neighbors and makes our association a model for others to follow.
In gratitude,
Nancy Bader
The WPHA has spent the past 15 months thinking about the many ways we can enhance our community, and we’re ready to preview them for you now. These exciting changes will officially launch with the 2021-2022 Membership Year, which begins on October 1.
Two Headlining Events with extra special and extra fun attractions and activities:
WPHA Spring Festival and WPHA Summer Picnic.
WPHA Spring Festival includes all the activities that were previously part of the Easter Celebration, plus the following:
WPHA Summer Picnic includes all the activities that were previously part of the 4th of July Picnic, plus the following:
WPHA Diamond Membership
The new Diamond Membership is perfect for households who want to support KCPD Security Patrol to keep our neighborhood safe and also want the added value of special benefits and discounts that extend into the new WPHA Spring Festival and Summer Picnic. Watch your 2022 Membership Mailing (coming in September) for more information.
Sneak Peak
Next month, WPHA will unveil a logo refresh that better reflects our neighborhood. We’ll also unveil our new Mission Statement and a declaration of our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
One simple way to support the Black community is to frequent Black-owned establishments, many of which have struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic. Midwest Black Restaurant Week, running through Aug. 1, helps promote these restaurants so they can recover.
Black Restaurant Weeks have been staged around the U.S. since 2016. This year, the second for the Midwest Region, brings expanded participation from restaurants to food trucks, sweets, fun activities, gift cards, cash prizes, and more.
To find local restaurants to support, click here.
Since we cannot, yet, safely host a full Easter Egg Hunt, we will again sponsor an Easter Egg Quest.
Here’s how the WPHA 2021 Easter Egg Quest works.
1) Follow the link at the bottom to download coloring pages.
2) Print and color as many of the pages as you would like.
3) Tape the colored pages to your windows or doors that face your front yard before Saturday, March 27, 2021.
4) Between March 27th and April 4th, walk the neighborhood. As you do, find as many colored pages as you can find, and keep count.
5) By NOON, on Monday, April 5, submit an email using this link.
6) On Tuesday, April 6, 2021, the WPHA will randomly draw 4 names from the submissions sent in. Each of the 4 names drawn will win a goody-filled basket!
7) Prizes will be distributed by April 11, 2021.
There is no age limit. Everyone can participate.
A big thank you to WPHA volunteer and member, Amanda Rhodes, for coordinating this year’s Quest.
Tour our beautiful neighborhood to see the winners and honorable mentions of the WPHA’s 2020 Holiday Homes Decorating Contest.
Individual home winners:
7419 Ward Parkway
7300 Mercier St
7311 Wyoming
Best block winners (tie):
7200s Jarboe
7400s Summit
Individual home honorable mentions:
7240 Madison
7210 Jarboe
7125 Washington
715 W 74 St
7324 Belleview
7310 Terrace
7324 Terrace
7229 Belleview
7232 Ward Parkway
7221 Washington
7115 Jefferson
1000 W 72nd St
Individual blocks honorable mentions:
74th St between Pennsylvania & Washington
7200s Ward Parkway
7200s Belleview
Congratulations to all the winners and honorable mentions. Thank you for making our neighborhood a winter wonderland.
Dear WPHA Residents,
I had hoped this letter would be a celebratory one, recounting the wonderful connections we had made at the Longtime Resident Appreciation, the success of the Members Only Dumpster Day and Harvesters Food Drive, the fun conversations at Thirsty Thursday, and the exciting plans for June’s Hawaiian Ice Truck, another Members Only event.
Sadly, Covid-19 altered WPHA’s spring and summer plans, canceling some events and postponing others. This pandemic has affected our lives—both individually and collectively—in unprecedented ways, and individually and collectively, we are trying to find ways to cope with the myriad changes it has wrought.
As of this writing, we are optimistic that the 4th of July Picnic will happen, albeit with new rules to help assuage the potential spread of Coronavirus. I am personally hopeful that we can find a way to hold the annual Mums Sale and Neighborhood Night Out.
Please know that WPHA will alert you as we become aware of new information that effects our events. And, we will continue seeking ways to safely come together to build the bonds of community.
Please reach out to us at wardparkwayhomes@gmail.com if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Nancy Bader
President, WPHA Board of Directors
Pursuant to recent ’10/10/10 Rules’ for Kansas City which allows a ‘soft opening’ and the end of the Recovery Plan’s Phase One on May 15, the WPHA Board of Directors has determined that it is in the better interest of our community to cancel the Garage Sale Weekend originally scheduled for May 15 and May 16. If this event is rescheduled, we will alert you with more information.
Click the link for more information on KCMO Reopens.
More than 100 WPHA homes participated in the Easter Egg Quest. Thank you to everyone who colored and posted pages for our eager Questers to seek and find! From our Quest submissions, here are lucky winners:
Each winning home receives a $25 gift card to Brookside Toy & Science.
In lieu of our originally-planned Easter Egg Hunt on the lawn of Ward Parkway Presbyterian, we’re hosting an Easter Egg Quest.
Here’s how the WPHA 2020 Easter Egg Quest works.
1) Follow the link at the bottom to download coloring pages.
2) Print and color as many of the pages as you would like. We have included images for older participants to color as well.
3) Tape the colored pages to your windows or doors that face your front yard before Friday, April 3, 2020.
4) Between April 3rd and 5th, walk the neighborhood. As you do, find as many “eggs” as you can find, and keep count.
5) By NOON, on Monday, April 6, submit an email using this link.
6) On Tuesday, April 7, 2020, the WPHA will randomly draw 5 names from the submissions sent in. Each of the 5 names drawn will win a $25 Gift Card to Brookside Toy and Science!
7) Prizes will be distributed by April 10, 2020.
A big thank you to WPHA volunteer and member, Becky Schubkegel, for bringing us this idea. She is a special needs educator and a new WPHA resident.
For more than a decade, residents of WPHA have held a food drive to benefit Harvesters. Collectively, we have donated many tons of food to help our neighbors throughout the 26 counties, including Jackson, that Harvesters serves.
Sadly, pursuant to local orders and guidelines, WPHA finds it necessary to postpone our food drive, originally scheduled for April 25.
We hope that you will consider making a donation to help Harvesters help our neighbors.
1) Due to Covid-19, the Coronavirus, it is expected that food insecurity will increase exponentially among residents of Harvesters service area.
2) Many of our WPHA neighbors might find themselves unable to find or buy groceries and could themselves rely on Harvesters.
How can you help?
Make a donation. Every dollar donated to Harvesters helps ensure they have the food and resources on hand to meet any additional demand. It also helps provide means to get the food out more effectively and efficiently.
Harvesters still needs volunteers, though they have to limit the number and timeframe. In Kansas City, they can have 30 volunteers per shift who will work in three different areas.
You can still donate food to Harvesters; in fact, there are blue donation barrels at area Price Chopper stores.
What if you need help?
Many homes will find themselves missing meals or without enough food for the entire family at any one meal. You can find out how to use Harvesters services here.
Neighbors can help neighbors.
If you are not in a high risk group but have neighbors who are, maybe you can help shop for them?
WPHA is a community of neighbors with a long history of helping one another and others. During this most challenging of times, WPHA thanks everyone for all you are doing to ensure that you, and others, stay healthy.