Articles

Construction on the renovation of Oregon Trail Park, 1100 S. Robinson, is underway.  The City Council awarded the construction bid for this $3.3 million project to Feyerherm Construction, Inc. at their May 6 meeting and construction began just two days later on May 8.  The park is now closed.

The project is primarily funded through voter-approved 1/8 cent sales tax for parks projects.  The project also includes funding from Olathe Youth Baseball and Johnson County Stormwater Funds.

The City of Olathe is currently in the process of updating its Comprehensive Plan.  The Comprehensive Plan outlines the City's official goals, policies, and guidelines to direct the growth and development of the community.  The Comprehensive Plan describes the vision and goals of the community and provides a framework for future zoning, development and policy decisions.

As part of the parking garage expansion project, additional repairs within the previously-existing garage are scheduled to begin on Monday, May 12.

Due to the nature of the repairs, parking will not be permitted within the previously-existing portion of the garage.  All parking will be limited to the new parking garage addition beginning Thursday,

May 8 and remain effective for approximately six weeks.

Citing Olathe's very strong financial management, continued economic diversification through on-going commercial and industrial development, and strong financial performance among other issues, the Standard and Poor's Rating Agency has upgraded Olathe's bond rating to a AA+, the second highest rating possible.

A multicultural group of panelists, representing the Asian American community, will come together to dispel myths, discuss multiculturalism, and share personal stories and experiences at the last panel discussion of the 2007 - 2008 Cultural Learning Links series.

"Celebrating Diversity and Honoring Unity" is the theme of the series, which began in September 2007 with a discussion about multiculturalism.

Weather permitting, on Monday, April 28, construction will begin on a new interchange located at I-35 and Lone Elm Road in Johnson County.  The I-35 and Lone Elm Road interchange project, a cooperative project between the Kansas Department of Transportation and the City of Olathe, includes the construction of a new folded, or half diamond, interchange at 159th Street/Lone Elm Road and I-35 in Olathe.

Now is a good time to consider purchasing an Individual Season Swim Pass or Family Season Swim Pass to enjoy great water fun at the City's swimming pools this spring and summer.

The City's swimming pools will officially open Saturday, May 24. The City of Olathe Swimming facilities: Black Bob Park Pool, 14570 W. 151 St.; Frontier Pool, 15909 W. 127 St.; Mill Creek Park Pool, 320 E. Poplar; and Oregon Trail Pool, 1800 W. Dennis  

Residents will soon be able to purchase fresh produce, flowers, herbs and baked goods at Olathe's Farmers' Market.  The Farmers' Market will open at 7 a.m. on Saturdays from May 3 through October 11.  The market, located at the corner of Poplar and Kansas Ave. - just one block north of Santa Fe, remains open until products are sold.

Beginning at 3 p.m. June 4 through Sept. 24, the market will be open on Wednesdays.  

For more information, contact the Olathe Parks and Recreation Department at (913) 971-6263.

Results of Olathe's eighth annual DirectionFinder citizen satisfaction survey are in, and the city continued seeing dramatic improvement in citizen satisfaction.

When the survey was initially conducted in 2000, Olathe rated at or below average in nearly every category when compared to the overall metropolitan area. The 2007 survey shows Olathe at or near the top in nearly every major category covering city services. In addition, Olathe's satisfaction ratings significantly exceeded national averages in all but one category.