Neighborhood Conservation Program
Overland Park initiated the Neighborhood Conservation Program in 1991 to help sustain aging neighborhoods in the northern part of the city that do not have associations.
Since then, individual residents have organized into groups as a means to connect with neighbors and local government leaders to form partnerships that enrich and sustain the livability of Overland Park.
The neighborhood conservation program helps preserve and enhance these neighborhoods by:
- Promoting community-building by supporting voluntary neighborhood groups and associations;
- Providing a forum for communication between neighbors, residents and City Hall;
- Developing community leadership; and
- Advocating for the needs of neighborhood organizations.
Map
See a map of all active neighborhood organizations and homeowners’ associations that are part of the Neighborhood Conservation Program.
Contact
Alissa Workman
Alissa.Workman@opkansas.org
Get Involved
If your neighborhood or association would like to take a more active role in the Neighborhood Conservation Program, contact the neighborhood programs coordinator listed above.
Benefits of Involvement
By taking an active role in the Neighborhood Conservation Program, neighborhoods are eligible for resources to support community events and meetings.
Resources for Neighborhood Leaders
It’s easy for Overland Park residents to get involved in the Neighborhood Conservation Program and Neighborhood Executive Committee. The following resources will help neighborhood leaders and associations make the most of the Neighborhood Conservation Program and Neighborhood Executive Committee involvement.
Neighborhood Conservation Program Grants
The City provides neighborhood grants to voting, voluntary Neighborhood Conservation Program groups for some expenditures, including:
- Resident neighborhood block parties,
- Street meets,
- Picnics,
- Ice cream socials,
- Holiday parties,
- Breakfast gatherings,
- Neighborhood organizing activities,
- Neighborhood cleanup expenses,
- Resident guide or directory printing costs,
- Neighborhood social event signage,
- Neighborhood markets, identity or monument signs,
- Landscape maintenance, and other projects.
If you have an idea for a project not shown above, contact the Neighborhood Programs coordinator.
Grants cannot be used for:
- Expenses incurred before the grant award was made,
- Monetary prizes, gift cards and raffle items,
- Subscriptions including online meeting platforms,
- General office or meeting supplies,
- Improvements that directly benefit a particular household,
- Equipment and goods that could primarily be used by individuals instead of for the benefit of the neighborhood at large,
- Alcoholic beverages,
- Political campaigns or advocacy efforts
The Neighborhood Grants program is accepting applications through Feb. 10, 2023.
Facility Rentals
Active Neighborhood Conservation Program groups can reserve city parks and city or school district buildings for meeting use at no cost. Fill out the online form to request a meeting space.
Block Parties
Neighborhoods are much stronger when they come together. Even if it’s just a few neighbors bringing a chair and a dish to share, a block party is a way to transform a neighborhood into a community. Neighborhood Conservation Program grants are available for block parties.
If you want to have your party in the street, you’ll need to get a special event permit to block off the road safely. Electrical permits and special event permits may be required as well. Apply for these permits online using ePLACE, the city’s permitting system. Use the lawn game request form to borrow entertainment from the city for your event. You can also request a visit from the Overland Park Fire Department by calling 913-895-8400.
All Resources
Neighborhood Executive Committee
In the early 1990s, the city formed the Neighborhood Executive Committee to organize neighborhoods together with the common interest of building relationships. Since then, the program has grown and centered around a “grassroots-style” organization between residents and local government.
The Neighborhood Executive Committee is a group of neighborhood leaders who meet every other month to discuss issues in their neighborhoods and collaborate with other groups. Homeowners associations are welcome to participate in the Neighborhood Executive Committee.
If your neighborhood would like to take a more active role in the Neighborhood Executive Committee, contact the neighborhood programs coordinator listed above.