The WPHA seeks volunteers to help with upcoming events and committee activities. Can you offer some of your time or talent? (This is a great opportunity for high-school-aged neighbors to earn community service hours.)
Volunteers needed to help assemble and deliver donation bags with instructions to each house in the neighborhood during the weekend of June 1. Volunteers also needed to collect and sort food donations and deliver them to Harvesters on Saturday, June 8.
This lunchtime event takes place on Thursday, July 4. We need 10 volunteers. No prior volunteer experience is needed. Volunteers should be able to lift 10 pounds, stand for 60-minute intervals, and present a positive energy. Volunteers will be asked to come to the event 1 hour before it starts, work periodically during the picnic, and stay about 1 hour after it ends. Volunteers will be able to eat during the picnic. High school students are encouraged to volunteer.
Volunteers needed for WPHA’s Spring Membership Drive, Thirsty Thursdays, and Fall Neighborhood Night Out. No prior volunteer experience is needed. Volunteers should be able to walk the neighborhood for 30–60-minute intervals, stand for 60 minute intervals, and present a positive energy. High school students are encouraged to volunteer for Membership Drive. Volunteers must be 21 years of age or older for Thirsty Thursday and Neighborhood Night Out.
Volunteers needed to join the committee as regular members. No prior volunteer experience is needed. Committee volunteers may be asked to communicate with local law enforcement agencies and/or local city officials and represent the WPHA at other crime/safety groups. Committee volunteers may be asked to summarize reports and work with basic computer programs.
Contact the WPHA to raise your hand. We’ll reply to your email within 72 business hours. Please identify the opportunity for which you would like to volunteer.
Hey neighbors! The Ward Parkway Homes Association Membership Committee is kicking off a series of happy hour hangouts at local bars to give neighbors like you another reason to get to know each other. Join us for a drink and chat during our Thirsty Thursday events.
We’ll provide some pitchers of free beer to share, or you can purchase your favorite drink at the bar. Stop by to meet some WPHA Board members and volunteers, as well as other residents in our neighborhood. Ask us all your burning questions about the homes association. We’d love to quench your thirst for answers.
You do not need to be a dues-paying member of the WPHA to participate. Look for our group towards the back of the bar.
Thursday, May 2, 2019, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Bobby Baker’s Lounge (7418 Wornall Rd.)
Thursday, June 6, 2019, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Dodson’s Bar and Commons (7438 Wornall Rd.)
Thursday, July 11, 2019, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Bobby Baker’s Lounge
Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Dodson’s Bar and Commons
See you soon!
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We’re looking for a few residents to plan the WPHA Easter Egg Hunt next year. This spirited egg hunt on the Ward Parkway Presbyterian Church lawn is a favorite for young kids. The event date is Sunday, April 7, with a rain date of Sunday, April 14, 2019. Tasks include coordinating with the church, filling eggs with candy, hiding them and organizing refreshments.
Can you assist us? If so, please let us know.
We are looking for door prizes to give away to adults and kids at the annual Ward Parkway Homes Association 4th of July Picnic. Can you help? Do you have connections to a KC business you’d be willing to tap (especially in the Waldo area)? The prize could be a coupon, a product, a service, etc. Get creative, and let us know what you come up with.
The Trolley Run is one of the largest timed 4-mile road races in the country, and the start line happens to be on Wornall Road at the eastern edge of our neighborhood. Be prepared for some road closures on Sunday, April 29, 2018, from approximately 7–11 a.m. If you need to be out and about during those hours, allow some extra travel time.
The annual Ward Parkway Homes Association Neighborhood Garage Sale weekend will be Friday, May 18, and Saturday, May 19, 2018. Whether you want to do some decluttering or score a great new find, plan to do it on this weekend.
While we don’t coordinate an official list or map of sales in our neighborhood, we’ll advertise on various community websites. You can help increase traffic by inviting your friends!
Nestled behind many homes in our neighborhood are beautiful and inventive yards — real labors of love. The Ward Parkway Homes Association typically organizes a public, self-guided summer Garden Tour every two years to showcase residents’ talents. The last one was held in June 2015.
Unfortunately, the Garden Tour Committee does not have enough hosts lined up to warrant planning a tour in 2017. If you’ve got a yard you’re proud of and would like to participate in the future, please contact us.
Have an interesting, whimsical, unique or beautiful yard? Consider being part of the 2017 WPHA Garden Tour this summer. It’s a terrific way to meet neighbors and build community in a casual setting. And you really don’t have to invest lots of time sprucing things up. Residents enjoy seeing the diversity of approaches to maintaining yards in our neighborhood.
The WPHA Garden Tour usually takes place during a three-hour period on a Sunday afternoon in June. The date for this year’s event hasn’t been decided yet. As a thank you for being a host site, we’ll provide a gift card to Soil Service and a stipend for snacks.
Send us an email if you’d like to be featured as a tour stop or want to help coordinate the event.
By Jon Rand
As the weather gets hotter, it’s full steam ahead for the Ward Parkway Homes Association. Two of our most popular events — the Garden Tour and 4th of July Picnic — are just around the corner.
Most people living or passing through our neighborhood cannot help but notice the exquisite care given to so many lawns and gardens. But they perhaps do not realize that some of these gardens are among the city’s most impressive.
That is why we showcase some of our beautiful gardens every two years. This year’s tour is free and open to the public Sunday, June 14, from 1–4 p.m.
Seven hosts, all located within easy walking distance of each other, have graciously agreed to show their gardens, serve snacks, answer questions and offer advice upon request.
The hosts and their addresses will be listed on fliers being delivered to all WPHA households and area businesses, including the Soil Service at 7125 Troost.
Just a few weeks later, WPHA will be host to the annual Fourth of July picnic, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hale Cook School on 73rd Street between Jefferson and Pennsylvania.
This has been for decades one of the neighborhood’s most popular events.
Sluggerr, the Royals’ mascot, will return as a special guest to lead the youngsters in their traditional bicycle parade and entertain with his delightful antics.
There will be prizes for the best decorated bikes, as well as a raffle for everybody. The picnic also will feature games, face painting and an appearance by Kansas City fire fighters, who will offer the youngsters a hosing down and chance to sit behind the wheel of a truck.
WPHA will provide grilled brisket from McGonigle’s Market, hot dogs, condiments and bottled water. Neighbors are invited to bring side dishes.