As we quickly approach the end of another year, join us in revisiting the events and milestones that shaped Overland Park in 2023. Here are just a few highlights of the many programs, events and services the City provided this year:
January
Running of the Goats
Mama goats at Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead made their trek to the barn to give birth. Pregnancy didn’t slow these gals down. Watch (and listen) to these boisterous goats here. The Farmstead welcomed more than 40 baby goats in the spring!
February
Lifeguard Pay Increase
Gearing up for pool season, the Parks and Recreation Department announced a lifeguard pay increase with a starting wage of $15 per hour. Through aggressive retention efforts and the pay increase, the aquatics team staffed many of the City’s 300+ lifeguard openings and opened all four outdoor pools for the summer.
March
Ash Tree Removal Program
The City of Overland Park began its Ash Tree Removal Program to proactively remove and replace ash street trees impacted by emerald ash borer, an invasive beetle that feeds on and kills ash trees. The City will replant one tree for every ash street tree removed as part of the program.
Fire Station 41 Groundbreaking Ceremony
The City broke ground at the site of the new Fire Station 41 at 7550 W. 75th St. on March 29. Fire Station 41 will address design best practices for equipment and personnel, accommodating larger equipment and allowing for the implementation of cancer-reducing measures. The new station will continue to serve the northern portion of Overland Park for generations to come.
April
State of the City
Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog presented his State of the City address on April 25 at Aspiria Auditorium, reflecting on the successes over the last year that have made Overland Park a nationally recognized place to live and work. He also shared remarks about the City’s plans to address great challenges and opportunities that will continue moving the City forward.
Tree City USA
The Arbor Day Foundation recognized Overland Park as a Tree City, honoring the City’s commitment to effective urban forest management ahead of Arbor Day. The City also received a Tree City USA Growth Award for demonstrating environmental improvement and an outstanding level of tree care.
May
Incorporation Anniversary
Overland Park celebrated 63 years as a first-class city in 2023. The City was officially incorporated on May 20, 1960 with a population of 28,085. Today, Overland Park spans 75.6 square miles of Johnson County and is home to more than 200,000 residents, making it the second most populous city in Kansas and metropolitan Kansas City. Take a trip back to 1960 with these facts and historic moments from the year Overland Park was incorporated.
June
Community approves OP Moves Sales Tax
Overland Park residents approved a dedicated three-eighth cent sales tax to fund maintenance and improvements to City streets and traffic management systems in a June 22 mail-in ballot election. The City’s current one-eighth cent sales tax is set to expire in March of 2024. The approved three-eighth cent sales tax will replace the current sales tax starting in April of 2024. To learn more about OP Moves, and see a list of priority project areas, visit opkansas.org/OPmoves.
July
Storm Response
A storm on July 14 impacted an area from 47th to approximately 127th Streets in Overland Park, bringing down tree limbs on private property and along City streets and in parks. City staff immediately began removing trees blocked streets and collecting street tree debris. For residents who had limbs and branches from trees that fell in their yards, the City operated a total of 12 debris drop-off opportunities at Parks Headquarters and Young’s Pool during July and August. The City also facilitated a volunteer coordination program, matching elderly and other high-need residents with community volunteers who could assist with storm debris removal.
August
2024 Budget Approval
The Overland Park Governing Body approved the 2024 Budget on Aug. 21. The budget focuses on implementing recommendations of the City’s Infrastructure Advisory Group, recruiting and retaining a talented workforce, and continuing to implement the City Council’s strategic goals. The budget also supports police and fire recruitment efforts, funds mental health co-responders, adds a building code official to keep pace with development, increases park construction and forestry capacity, and more. To learn more about the budget, visit opkansas.org/Budget.
September
LongHouse Grand Opening
A long-awaited, state-of-the-art event venue and visitor center at the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens opened its doors on Sept. 9. Surrounded by picturesque scenery, LongHouse Visitor Center welcomes guests to the Arboretum with panoramic views of beautiful gardens, woodlands and ponds. The new building features a contemporary design with floor-to-ceiling windows and houses a variety of spaces to gather, including a banquet hall, meeting rooms, a gift shop, Café Celeste, terraces and patios. Learn more about LongHouse Visitor Center at opkansas.org/Longhouse.
New Concrete Streets Requirement
On Sept. 11, the City Council approved a recommendation to update the City’s design and construction standards, requiring single-family and multifamily residential streets, collector streets, and “super collector” streets be constructed with concrete pavement. The initiative to build more concrete streets stems from the City’s pledge to reduce its reliance on chip seal. Over the course of about 20 years, the City expects this change will mean about 370 lane miles of street that would eventually need chip seal maintenance, will instead be built with concrete.
FrameworkOP Open House Events
FrameworkOP is a community-driven process to update Overland Park’s comprehensive plan. The City held four open house events for residents to partake in the City’s comprehensive planning process. Residents participated in activities designed to collect feedback on goals and development principles as well as land use alternatives. Learn more about the comprehensive planning process and sign up for email updates at FrameworkOP.org.
October
New Incentive for Snow Crews
In preparation for the 2023-2024 snow season, the City of Overland Park offered new incentives for snow responders, including a monthly participation bonus and pay differential for hours worked during snow events in addition to regular wages. With over 2,000 lane miles of streets and bridges to maintain, including more than 2,000 cul-de-sacs and 59 bridge decks, our snow plow drivers directly impact the lives of OP residents.
November
Perfect Equality Score
The City of Overland Park earned a perfect Municipal Equality Index score in 2023. The Human Rights Campaign, which issues the annual scorecard examining how inclusive municipal laws, policies, and services are of LGBTQ people who live and work there, awarded Overland Park with a score of 100, the maximum number of points available. The 2023 score accounts for City efforts, including the designation of an LGBTQ+ liaison, providing services to LGBTQ+ youth, providing resources to LGBTQIA+ foster parents and foster children and diversity training requirements for the Overland Park Police Department and all other City employees. To see Overland Park’s full scorecard and other cities’ scores visit hrc.org/mei.
Weed Enforcement Ordinance Update
The Overland Park City Council approved an update to the City’s weed and vegetation enforcement act that encourages growing native plants. The City’s ordinance was last updated in 2011 and included an outdated definition of weeds not allowed to be grown in Overland Park yards. The ordinance update also removes the City’s definition of “weeds” –– relying on expertise from the Kansas Department of Agriculture regarding which weeds are harmful.
December
City Council Members Sworn In
The City welcomed a new City Council on Dec. 4, swearing in four newly-elected members and two re-elected members. The City Council is made up of 12 Overland Park residents elected from each of the city’s six wards. Together with the Mayor, it makes up Overland Park’s Governing Body, which represents the community’s interests and makes decisions that benefit the city as a whole. Meet new and returning members of the City Council at opkansas.org.
Awards & Recognition:
Top 10 Mid-Sized U.S. Cities for Starting a Career After College, CoworkingCafe
Top 25 Best Places to Live in the Midwest, Livability.com
Happiest Cities in America, WalletHub
Best Mid-Size Cities in the United States, CNN
View a full list at opkansas.org/awards.