On April 1, Rosedale Development Association will be the host of “The Land We Live On,” its second annual historical exhibit.
The exhibit will tell the story of parks, streets, and urban planning in Rosedale over the last 100 years. The historical exhibit will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. on April 1 at 1401 Southwest Blvd, Kansas City, Kan. Speakers will begin at 7 p.m.
The Rosedale Development Association currently is working with the Unified Government, the University of Kansas Hospital, KU Medical Center and other partners to develop the 2016 Rosedale Master Plan Update.
Master plans serve as a roadmap for future development in Rosedale, according to an RDA spokesman. They are used as a guide to ensure that development coincides with community wants and needs.
“Rosedale’s history shapes who we are as a community today. We love the opportunity to celebrate our past and help new generations learn about the community they live in and love,” said Heidi Holliday, executive director of RDA.
“The Land We Live On” will provide a special look at the many ways the infrastructure has changed since the area was inhabited by Native Americans. Changing boundary lines, street names, and urban development are some aspects the exhibit will highlight. Lead archivist JoJo Palko will curate the exhibit, sourcing materials from the Wyandotte County Historical Museum, Kansas City, Kan., Public Library, and the University of Kansas Libraries.
At the exhibit, two speakers will address the importance of the current master plan and how Rosedale’s history is important to its future: KHC heritage consultant and director of museum studies at the University of Kansas, Peter Welsh, and Zach Flanders, associate planner at urban planning firm BNIM. Flanders is a member of RDA’s board of directors and the lead planner at BNIM for the Rosedale Master Plan Update.
The exhibit is funded through a grant awarded by the Kansas Humanities Council (KHC) to RDA. KHC is a nonprofit organization that supports community-based cultural programs, serves as a financial resource through an active grant-making program, and encourages Kansans to engage in the civic and cultural life of their communities.
Last year, RDA did a program about the history of Rosedale in general, and this year’s program specifically focuses on the history of planning, parks and streets in Rosedale. The historical exhibit is open to the public. Refreshments will be available. There will be some art prints, historical photos and books about Rosedale available for purchase.
The historical exhibit will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. on April 1 at 1401 Southwest Blvd, Kansas City, Kan. Speakers to begin at 7 p.m. For more information about “The Land We Live On,” contact 913-677-5097 or at [email protected].
– Information from Rosedale Development Association