Preserving, Enhancing and Promoting Our Quality of Life through Parks, Trails & Recreation
What's Happening
Dear Friend,

As a faithful supporter of Parks, Trails and Recreation in Platte County and our non-profit support group - The Friends of Platte County Parks and Recreation, we are coming to you, to ask for your help.

Could you please donate to help us with funding for the IRS registration fee/start up cost to become a 501c3? 

Tim Kristl, our new Treasurer, has the package ready to go, we just need the filing fee of $400.  In appreciation for your generosity, we will make you a Charter member of the new 501c3 - The Friends of Platte County Parks and Recreation for your donation.

Please make your check out to:         Friends of Platte County Parks and Recreation

and mail it to:                                    ATTN:  Tim Kristl, Attorney
                                                        Mitchell, Kristl & Lieber, Attorneys at Law
                                                        1220 Washington - Third Floor
                                                        Kansas City, MO   64105-2245

HISTORY:

At the recommendation of our previous partner, The Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, we have taken the steps to re-create our non-profit group as a 501c3 organization.  Tim Kristl, our new Treasurer, tells us It will take 3-5 months for the IRS to process our 501c3 registration packet.  We are anxious to get moving on this. 

As you know,  there is much to do to "Preserve, Enhance and Promote Our Quality of Life"  through Parks, Trails and Recreation in Platte County.  Platte County has built some wonderful parks, trails and recreational amenities and is continuing to do so.  The Friends of Platte County Parks and Recreation want to inform and engage residents in using these amenities and taking active ownership in their preservation and enhancement.

THE FUTURE:

Some upcoming activities and events in 2012 that as a 501c3, we hope to be a big part of are:

- The Youth Sports and Recreation Initiative and E-Marketing
- 1st Annual Heartland Triathlon - highlighting parks, trails and recreational facilities in Platte County - June 10, 2012
- Volunteer at the national event - Warrior Dash - hosted right here in Platte County at Platte Ridge Park - the First weekend in May, 2012
-  and  other opportunities to promote and advance our county and it's most excellent amenities!

As a non-profit, Friends of Platte County Parks and Recreation,  has been operating these last 5 years with volunteers, no paid staff.  Our donations to date have gone to pay for the web site, e mail newsletters, P. O. Box, etc.  The labor has been a labor of love so far, but we are approaching the need for professional help with e marketing and social media.  Your ideas are welcome and we plan to keep you in the loop on those developments.

Please check out  What's Happening - current news  Things to Do - events and activities and Places to Go - parks, trails, recreation  at www.friendsofplattecountyparks.org

Can you help your Friends of Platte County Parks and Recreation today, so we can move forward and become a 501c3?

Thank you for your consideration. I hope to hear back from you very soon.

Sincerely,

Margie Maasen, President
Friends of Platte County Parks and Recreation
www.FriendsofPlatteCountyParks.org
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We hope you are enjoying the beauty here in Platte County this Winter.  Check out the cool  PLACES TO GO, THINGS TO DO and WHAT'S HAPPENING in our newsletter below and on our website at www.friendsofplattecountyparks.org

Are you looking for a beautiful place to spend some time?  Do you want to meet others who enjoy recreation?  Do you want to see our parks, trails and recreational opportunities in Platte County continue to grow and improve?  Welcome to the Friends of Platte County Parks & Recreation, we are becoming our very own 501c3....stay tuned....

We invite you to join us in making a difference in Platte County.  Find out more at www.friendsofplattecountyparks.org.  You can start receiving regular newsletters, find out about special events and get connected. Thank you for your inte

Margie Maasen, President
Tim Kristl, Treasurer
Jim Shoemaker, Secretary  

Please pass this newsletter on ….become a free subscriber online at our website or email us at info@friendsofplattecountyparks.org

To become a member or contribute to make a difference in Platte County go to http://www.friendsofplattecountyparks.org/Become_a_Friend.html
WELCOME 2011 - New Year, New Starts, and Gr

Welcome to our new Presiding County Commissioner - Jason Brown and best wishes in your new position.  We appreciate your service to our county and hope to work closely with you on and Recreation.

 Brown replaces Betty Knight, who retired in 2010 after faithful and professional service.  Thank you Commissioner Knight for your years of service to Platte County and your leadership. Best wishes in your retire

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN PLATTE COUNTY...........

PAST:   Check out this summary of what Platte County has accomplished in the first ten years of the ½ cent Parks, Recreation and  Storm water Sales tax

2011 - Ten year  Review of Parks and Recreation in Platte County

        http://www.platteparks.com/news/2011/10_years.pdf

PRESENT: 

PLATTE COUNTY IS PLANNING $20,000,000 IN EXPANSIONS TO COMMUNITY CENTERS -  ADDING AQUATIC and OTHER AMENITIES - North Community Center in Platte City - adding 6-8 lanes for swimming - working on partnering with Platte County RIII School District for their swim team. Also adding 4-6 lanes to South Community Center in Parkville. For details go to   www.platteparks.com


FUTURE:  County P & R plans at www.platteparks.com

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Did you know we have our very own stretch of the METRO GREEN TRAIL NETWORK right here in Platte County?  And it is growing???  Check out these Platte County trail updates:

Southern Platte Pass - Trail Connection under I-29 along 64th St. - Update – Platte County, KCMO and MoDot are working together to  enable Phase 2 of the Southern Platte Pass Trail along NW 64th St. to continue under the I-29 overpass.  This Platte County/KCMO trail is federally funded and due to be extended under I-29 to the East to connect to Gower and KCMO sidewalks along it.    MoDot has submitted to the Feds for sign off to begin - looks like construction won't start till Spring of 2012 now......

Southern Platte Pass Trail West to Union Chapel (K hwy) Update - 45 highway/64th st extension west trail?  State (MoDot) has begun construction of road/trail improvement project to include 10’ (primarily) shared use path from 9 Hwy to Union Chapel Rd.

Line Creek Trail advances – This meandering trail along the creek just West of Waukomis/Green Hills Roads in heavily populated Platte County/KCMO, will cross the new Gower Extension and is heading  south towards  Riverside ..........and the Missouri Riverfront Trail.......This is a cooperative project between Kansas City, Platte County and Riverside.  NICE!

We hear the city of Riverside is making great progress on their trails network and plan to connect up Line Creek toward the KCMO Line Creek Trail.

Will we make a connection along Line Creek to the Missouri River in Riverside/Parkville?? As shown in these plans - METRO GREEN/NORTHLAND TRAILS/PLATTE COUNTY TRAILS/KANSAS CITY TRAILS/RIVERSIDE TRAILS.  www.platteparks.com