Lenexa plans for holiday events
Aaron Cedeño | Staff Writer

Lenexa has a well-earned reputation thanks to its numerous festivals and community events. With the Great Lenexa Barbeque Battle just barely in the city’s rearview mirror, the parks and recreation department has already turned its attention to the city’s Fourth of July festivities.

It can make for a hectic schedule, said interim director of parks and recreation Dawn Grosdidier.
“But that’s what parks and recreation people do,” she said. “We always have to be ready for the next event because it never ends. So we just take a deep breath and get started on the next one.”

Friday will feature some of the city’s longest-running traditions — beginning at 7 a.m. in Old Town with the 30th Annual Freedom Run. The course is traffic controlled, thanks to collaboration among numerous city departments, including police, fire and public works.

In fact, the entire day would be impossible without every department working together, Grosdidier said.

“We work closely with public works because of the road closures, we work closely with police and fire because of safety and traffic redirection,” she explained. “So it really is team involvement from the city standpoint, for everyone.”

After the Freedom Run at 10 a.m., the Community Days parade will wind its way from Park Street and Santa Fe Trail Drive through Old Town. The parade features dozens of floats, local dignitaries and entertainers, and prizes will be awarded in a number of categories, including “classic cars,” “decorated bicycles” and “equestrian.”

Festivities come to a close at 9:45 p.m. with a 20-minute fireworks display at Shawnee Mission Park, 7900 Renner Road, sponsored jointly by Lenexa and Shawnee, as well as the Johnson County Parks and Recreation District.

While fluctuating weather and travel plans make it difficult to predict the day’s community turnout, it always numbered in the thousands, said recreation supervisor Debbie O’Connor.

“To me, our whole year kind of centers around it,” she said of the Fourth of July events. “Because there’s really something for everybody.”

For more information on the day’s activities — including how to register to participate in either the 5K or 10K Freedom Run, and trail maps for both the run and parade — visit the city’s Web site at www.ci.lenexa.ks.us.