LAWRENCE — Mayor Dean Jessup recently declares April “Love Your Lawrence Parks Month” and asks Lawrence residents to demonstrate their appreciation for Lawrence’s 10 parks by participating in several planned events.
Clean-up and spruce-up days will be scheduled throughout the month at each individual park to beautify park areas after the long winter months. Mayor Jessup, Parks Director Eric Martin and neighbors will be out on Saturday, April 11, for a community build of new playground equipment at Oaklandon Play Park, 11828 E. 65th St. Volunteers will work in two shifts – from 8 a.m. to noon and from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. – to install the equipment, paint fences and do landscaping. Volunteers can sign up online at www.cityoflawrence.org/parks-and-recreation-volunteer-application/.
On Earth Day, April 22, the mayor will cut the ribbon to re-open Lawrence’s Oaklandon Play Park, a community celebration will follow. The public is invited to witness the ribbon cutting, set to take place at 11 a.m.
Little League baseball also starts in April with the leagues’ traditional parades. The Oaklandon Youth Organization’s parade steps off at 9 a.m. April 18 at Oaklandon Elementary School, 6702 Oaklandon Road.
A week later, on April 25, Fall Creek Little League begins its season with a parade starting at 10 a.m. at Fall Creek Valley Middle School, 9701 E. 63rd St. Lawrence Lions Youth Baseball follows suit when its parade steps off at 1 p.m. from Lawrence Community Park, 5301 N. Franklin Road.