contact MERRIAM CITY HALL 9001 W. 62ND ST. MERRIAM, KS 66202 913-322-5500
HOURS M-F 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
IRENE B. FRENCH COMMUNITY CENTER 5701 MERRIAM DR. MERRIAM, KS 66203 913-322-5550
HOURS M-TH 8 a.m.–9 p.m. F 8 a.m.–5 p.m. SA 8 a.m.–4 p.m. SU 1 p.m.–5 p.m.
MERRIAM AQUATIC CENTER 6040 SLATER MERRIAM, KS 66202 913-322-5518 HOURS M-TH 12–8 p.m. F 12–7 p.m. SA 11 a.m.–7 p.m. SU 12–6 p.m. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 913-322-5520 FIRE 913-888-6066 MUNICIPAL COURT 913-322-5540 POLICE EMERGENCY: 911 NON-EMERGENCY DISPATCH: 913-782-0720 MAIN: 913-322-5560 PUBLIC WORKS 913-322-5570 VISITORS BUREAU 913-403-8999 cityofmerriam@merriam.org
WWW.MERRIAM.ORG
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MAYOR’S MESSAGE Greetings Merriam Residents,
In January, we said goodbye to longtime resident Myra Jenks, an active and valued member of the community, and one of Merriam’s great historians. She and former Mayor Irene B. French actually published a comprehensive history of our city, “Historic Merriam,” in 2006, and it will always be one of my favorite books. When I revisit some of the stories Jenks and French researched and documented, I’m reminded of the many bold decisions made by forward-thinking leaders that shaped our town. It all began when David Gee Campbell chose to buy acreage here in 1860, recruited businesses to the area, convinced the railroad to go through his property, then built a train depot so people could stop here. Naturally, this place was named Campbellton at first. Campbell’s efforts worked so well that by the late 1800s, droves of people came by train and trolley from urban areas like Kansas City to enjoy Campbellton’s lush, relaxing parks and amenities. To capitalize on the popularity of this destination, in 1880 the railroad built a grand park, named after railroad executive Charles Merriam. Merriam Park was dedicated by President Ulysses S. Grant and the town was soon renamed “Merriam.” The park consisted of a zoo, a lagoon for boating and ice skating, a baseball diamond, tennis courts, and Kansas City’s best bands performed in the park’s pavilion. At one point, as many as 20,000 people came from all over to visit the park every day. We might not be here if Campbell didn’t settle this area and recruit families, businesses, and the railroad to follow. You could say the railroad put us on the map, but those early parks and recreation facilities defined the character of our community, and made it a desirable place to live. Merriam is fortunate that over time, so many of its leaders valued the development of an extensive parks system and recognized the importance of providing first-class recreational opportunities to the community. Today, we’re blessed with a system of parks and trails unlike anything you’re likely to find in other small towns our size. I’m proud to report that our current leaders continue to honor and preserve this legacy, and you might have noticed significant upgrades to parks in recent years. However, our recreational facilities are in bad shape, and residents deserve better. The Irene B. French Community Center and the Merriam Aquatic Center are at the end of their useful lives — structures are deteriorating, systems are failing, and amenities don’t meet the community’s needs. Merriam city staff worked with consultants and the community for more than a year to develop options that address the physical problems and limitations of our current facilities, and ways to provide recreational experiences designed to meet the needs of generations to come. This edition of Highlights contains an article about these issues, and a special insert with detailed information about options for moving forward. Bold leadership decisions — like those that built this city — and public participation are required to ensure that Merriam remains a first-class city that takes care of its assets, delivers the best services, and provides residents with the amenities needed to enjoy a high quality of life. I encourage you to become informed — and involved — in the issue of what to do about our failing recreational facilities. Because doing nothing is not an option, and it’s not the Merriam way. Your Mayor,
Ken Sissom
City offices will close in observation of holidays on Mon., May 29; Tues., July 4; and Mon., Sept. 4. In each case, offices
PAGE 2 // MERRIAM HIGHLIGHTS & RECREATION SUMMER 2017 information for the Irene B. French Community Center is on page 12. will reopen at 8 a.m. the following //weekday. Closing