U.S. News County leaders approve grant to help preserve 135-acre farm surrounding Wells Overlook Published 3 years ago on May 6, 2021 By Matt Collins Editor Share Tweet TOPEKA, Kan. – Heritage Conservation Coordinator Jan Shupert-Arick told the commission that the Heritage Conservation Council reviewed 14 grant applications totaling more than $400,000 in requests and arrived at its recommendations after presentations from the applicants and dozens of hours of evaluation. HCC Chair Mike Delaney said the council acknowledged that the project took up a significant amount of this year’s funding, but that council members were unanimous about the importance of the project. Delaney said ensuring that 30 or 40 years from now people who stand on the overlook will be able to see the same vista they see today was an opportunity that couldn’t be lost. “The idea that the property that surrounds the Wells Overlook might someday be subdivided into 30 ranchettes just seemed so inappropriate for an irreplaceable asset like the county’s parkland there, the overlook itself,” Delaney said. As part of its meeting, the County Commission voted to confirm the council’s recommendation to fund the Wells Farm conservation project, as well as 12 other projects. The Kansas Land Trust requested $69,600 for the project, and the commission agreed with the council’s recommendation to award the project $59,400. Delaney explained that the funds would go toward the enforcement of the conservation easements that will run with the land. He said the Land Trust would protect the land to make sure that the easements prohibiting the land from being developed are enforced in perpetuity. Kelly added that it’s tough to set aside funds to preserve land, and he thinks the county should continue to work with the Land Trust regarding preservation of green space. The next three highest awards were $35,000 for a pollinator project at the Mutt Run Dog Park, submitted by the University of Kansas Center for Research and the City of Lawrence; $30,000 for exterior brick rehabilitation on the towers of St. Luke AME Church; and $15,000 for the community history anthology “Embattled Lawrence Vol. 3,” submitted by the Douglas County Historical Society. Other projects include Friends of Oak Hill Cemetery’s tombstone restoration project, Vinland Cemetery Sesquicentennial Project, and the Good Morning Indian Country program hosted by the Lawrence Arts Center. Related Topics: Up Next Sen. Marshall works to repeal increase to unemployment benefits by end of May Don't Miss City Commissioner Jennifer Ananda announces she will not seek reelection Advertisement Trending
