Guest post by WPHA resident Linetta Thurman
Like many of you in the WPHA, we lost power in January following a major winter storm. It wasn’t long before several neighbors across the street who still had power offered us coffee to warm up, their Wi-Fi and TV to catch up, and their couches to rest up — even for the night! Within minutes of our power coming on, those same neighbors notified the residents on our block of the good news so those who were away could return home. Your care and generosity was appreciated. I love this neighborhood!
Neighbors were not the only ones looking out for us during the snow storm. Our neighborhood security patrol (of retired and off-duty KCPD officers) knew about power outages in the area, and they patrolled our streets more frequently and reassigned shifts so that those of us without power wouldn’t become victims of crime. This is just one more reason why I support and fund our neighborhood security patrol. I encourage you to do the same.
The Ward Parkway Homes Association is excited to announce the launch of a Membership Committee and its focus in the coming year. Richard Murray (Mercier Street) has joined the WPHA Board and will head the committee in 2019. Secretary Mike Allmon (Belleview Avenue) and Alex Gill (Jefferson Street) will serve as formal members, and several others volunteers will support the work.
Membership in the homes association is a priority for the WPHA Board this year. The primary charge of the Membership Committee will be to increase engagement with our residents and increase participation in the WPHA. Look for more frequent social interactions from the Membership Committee. Leveraging connections with local businesses and other community partners will be another important aspect of helping increase visibility of, and participation in, the WPHA. The Membership Committee will also be seen knocking on doors from time to time to welcome new residents into our neighborhood.
The WPHA Board looks forward to the work the Membership Committee is undertaking for 2019. If you would like to volunteer your time and talents, please contact us.
Guest post by WPHA resident B. Michael McFarland
B. Michael McFarland
When we moved into the neighborhood, we joined the Ward Parkway Homes Association (WPHA) but did not subscribe to the security patrol service because we didn’t understand what it was for. We never seemed to see the patrol.
Then two things happened.
First: a neighbor got a dog and started walking that dog at night, after 10 p.m., and reported seeing patrol several times at night. We weren’t seeing patrol because we are not outside walking the neighborhood after 10 p.m., but my neighbor said he felt much safer seeing those patrols.
Second: We attended one of the monthly WPHA Board of Directors meetings. A sergeant from the Kansas City Police Department attended to deliver a report, and I learned that no resident that paid for the security patrol and requested a vacation house check this year has had their home broken into while they were away. Not only that, but a crime report the sergeant brought showed that the WPHA is actually one of the safest neighborhoods in the area. We learned how often the security patrol happens, and that it is deliberately scheduled at various times throughout the day and night based on what’s happening in the area.
It used to be that the WPHA security patrol officers often traveled in unmarked cars to be less conspicuous. Under the new sergeant’s watch, all the off-duty officers use marked KCPD vehicles and have a more visible presence.
Now we know why felt like we never seemed to see patrol officers in the neighborhood. They were unmarked. They patrolled at constantly changing times of day. And they were frequently present while we were inside instead of outside our house.
The WPHA’s security patrol service costs $60 a year. That breaks down to $5 per month. I spend more than that on one drink at Starbucks.
I encourage any of you who don’t participate in security patrol to do so. For the price of one Frappuccino a month, you can have greater peace of mind that your property will be safe when you leave town. And the security patrol’s property crime deterrence has a positive impact on the whole neighborhood.
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.
Do you use the Nextdoor social media app for neighborhoods? If so, we’ve got some pro tips for you.
The default setting in Nextdoor is to show you updates from our neighborhood (Ward Parkway Homes Association, or “Ward Park”) plus 28 other surrounding neighborhoods based on a distance-based algorithm. That’s potentially a lot of neighborhoods you might not want to hear from every day.
Good news! You can pick and choose the surrounding neighborhoods you see updates from, as well as customize the type and frequency of email notifications you get. Here’s how.
How to stop neighborhood notifications
How to change your email settings
We have exciting news for those of you who are glass recyclers. This month, a new Ripple Glass recycling bin location opened at Research Medical Center (6675 Holmes Rd.) in the southeast corner of parking lot C, just north of University Academy.
Residents in the area can bring their used bottles and jars to the purple bin to be recycled. Ultimately, the glass will be remade into new bottles and fiberglass insulation.
According to the Kansas City Police Department, thefts from autos are on the rise in the area. We all know that auto burglaries are crimes of opportunity. They are typically committed when the perpetrator sees that he/she has the chance to commit the act at that moment and seizes it.
KCPD Community Interaction Officer Mikki Cassidy recently shared the following tips on Nextdoor about how to reduce your chances of becoming a victim.
The Ward Parkway Homes Association would like input from residents about satisfaction with member benefits and neighborhood services. Your feedback will help inform future decisions made by our Board of Directors.
Please take a few minutes to complete this short survey.
Thanks!
The Ward Parkway Homes Association is full of residents who watch out for each other and value working together to keep our neighborhood beautiful, safe and welcoming. Look for a letter to arrive in your mailbox soon reminding you to renew your annual membership for fiscal year 2019, or join for the first time if you are not currently a member. (Our fiscal year runs Oct. 1–Sept. 30.)
Your membership and security dues support our private security patrol, maintenance and beautification of common areas, welcome kits for new neighbors, social events and more.
You can pay online securely via PayPal or mail in a renewal form with a check.