LPR E-News

with Parks & Rec Director BJ Staab

October - it's the most spook-tacular time of the year! This month we will share some great opportunities and ideas for your families and friends to get involved with LPR and enjoy Liberty's parks.

Take time and try something new and don't forget, there are only a couple months left to share your ideas for the Liberty Parks & Rec Master Plan "Imagine Liberty 2031" project. Please find some time to share what's important to you and/or your family as we plan for the future of Liberty parks and recreation programming. Happy October!

Master Plan Website

LPR to Aid in the Fight Against Alzheimer’s Disease

The Liberty Parks & Rec Health & Wellness team has partnered with KU Alzheimer’s Disease Center (KU ADC), which has the mission to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through research on prevention and treatment. KU ADC is part of a network of nationally-designated Alzheimer’s Disease Centers in the country.

The LPR Health & Wellness team is partnering with KU ADC on a COMET research project where they are studying the ability of exercise to prevent or delay Alzheimer’s. Liberty Community Center (LCC) was selected as a site for their COMET research project where qualified participants will get personal training services as well as memberships to the facility and LCC trainers will document progress and work with the physical therapist at KU ADC.

The initial project is expected to last four years and the LCC has been approved as a research facility through the department of Health and Human Services. A select number of staff are being trained by KU ADC as part of the study and expect to begin receiving clients within the next two months.

Learn More About the Ploggathon

Liberty Public Works Hosts Ploggathon Challenge

Join Liberty Public Works for the 2022 Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) Ploggathon! “Plogging” is a Swedish concept that combines picking up litter and jogging. MARC is hosting a friendly competition to see which county in the KC Metro Area will have the most volunteers and pick up the most litter!

The event will take place on Oct. 16. Join in at the time that best suites your schedule between 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. This type of an event ties into our values at LPR with the goal of promoting health and wellness by walking or jogging and taking care of our natural resources and keeping litter from making its way into the watersheds.

Learn More & Register

We're happy to be back on the court this winter and offering a full lineup of youth basketball. We will offer competitive and recreational leagues for boys and girls in K-8th Grade and will also offer 4-week clinics for our bitty league geared towards kids who are 3-5 years old.

League games will run Jan. 7 - Feb. 25, 2023

8-game schedule on Saturdays at Liberty Area Schools
Registration deadline is Oct. 31

Scholarship Program

If you need assistance to participate in a sports program, please check out the Liberty Parks & Rec Foundation Scholarship Programs. These scholarships can make LPR programs and activities more accessible by partially covering the cost of registration fees for youth who qualify.

In 2021, the Liberty Community Christmas Tree (LCCT) Program raised more than $63,000 to provide food and gifts to 350 families with 880 children and 110 other adult households.

- LCCT By The Numbers

The LCCT Program helps families and seniors / adult only households who need assistance during the holiday season. The program provides each household with boxes of food and gifts for each child.

Eligibility:

Families and households residing within the Liberty Public School (LPS) District boundaries are eligible for assistance. School-age children must be enrolled in a Liberty school. Applications from families who home-school and live within the LPS district will also be accepted. Enrollment and/or address will be confirmed.

Applications for 2022 assistance from the Liberty Community Christmas Tree program will be accepted Oct. 3–Nov. 4. Please do not miss the deadline. Late applications will not be accepted.

Learn More & Apply

Sponsor A Family

Make A Donation

Learn More About the Access Bus

Liberty Access Bus By The Numbers!

The mission of the Liberty Access Bus is to help citizens age in place and we strive to help the older and disabled residents of Liberty maintain their independence and remain in their homes for as long as possible.

The Liberty Access Bus provided a total of 581 rides the month of September.

Grocery - 176
Medical -155
Silver Center - 201
Under 60 Essential - 18
Coupons - 31

Looking for a Halloween Event That’s Sure to Thrill?

Join us for a Spooky Trail Hunt October 21-31, 2022

Find our 12 spooky ghosts hiding along the Cates Creek/Jefferson Park trail.
The best place to park is on Missouri Court behind the Dr. Spotless Car Wash next to the playground and gaga ball pit. View activity sheet for more info.
The trail is 0.4 miles one way, so down and back will be a 0.8 mile walk.
Each ghost will be holding a letter. Find all of the letters to unscramble the answer to our ghosts' favorite joke.
Bring your completed activity sheet to the Liberty Community Center for a Halloween treat.

Prizes available for the first 700 children who complete the activity and return it to the Liberty Community Center. Limit one prize per child. There must be someone present for each activity sheet submitted. Completed activity sheets will be accepted through Nov. 4, or until all the prizes are gone.

Activity Sheet

Make A Donation

The Liberty Parks & Rec Foundation (LPRF) is working toward their goal of raising of raising $90,000 in the LPRF Annual Campaign. The Foundation’s primary goal is to raise funds to support scholarships that ensure kids, families and our community have the opportunity to participate in the department’s youth activities or Liberty Community Center memberships.

The LPRF also focuses on the development and implementation of highly desirable programs and projects that would otherwise be beyond the scope of traditional funding sources.

In addition to scholarships, fundraising for 2022 will be focused on:

Restoration of the Liberty Performing Arts Theatre seating
Replacement of Bennett Park playground and surfacing for inclusive play

Since the LPRF started the Annual Campaign in 2017, they have raised more than $360,000, which has provided scholarships and the completion of many projects throughout Liberty's Parks. Check out the previous projects list.

Learn More About Liberty Meals on Wheels

Meals on Wheels Loves Pets Too

No senior should have to share their food to feed their pet. The "Liberty Meals on Wheels Loves Pets Too" program helps recipients who are struggling to afford proper food for their pets. Through a partnership with Great Plains SPCA pet food pantry that provides generic food for cats and dogs, 10 of our recipients receive pet food deliveries every other month.

Meals on Wheels by the Numbers for September 2022:

Meals Delivered – 1,910
Days Delivered – 21
Average Meals Per Day – 91
New Recipients – 4
Total Recipients – 111
New Volunteers – 4

October Activities & Menu

October Silver Center Activities

Socialize and stay engaged at the Liberty Silver Center. With a wide variety of activities, the Silver Center is designed to meet the needs and social interests of the seniors in our community, offering plenty of opportunities to exercise your mind and body!

Located at the Liberty Community Center, the Liberty Silver Center is a place where older adults (60+) come to socialize, participate in activities and special events, and enjoy a hot, nutritious meal. The Silver Center is open Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Here are a few highlight this month:

Scamboree Event - Oct. 12
Grief Support - Oct. 13 and 27
Spooktacular BINGO - Oct. 14
Square Dance Demo - Oct. 17
Flu Shot Clinic w/ Hy-Vee - Oct. 18
Author's Corner - Oct. 19
Boo Bash Birthday Party - Oct. 28

Basic Conditioning Clinics

Unleash the potential of your youth athlete with the Liberty Parks & Rec Youth Speed & Agility Clinics. These programs are a great opportunity for athletes ages 6-13 to learn fundamental movement patterns that are applicable to virtually every sport while encouraging sportsmanship and friendly competition.

Nov. 7-30, 2022

Monday or Wednesday
$10 OFF Promo Code:SAG10
Valid through Oct. 28
Registration deadline is Nov. 3

Walk With Ease

This program is an evidence-based fitness program shown to relieve pain and improve your health. Brought to you by the experts you trust at the Arthritis Foundation, Walk With Ease provides techniques to build up and maintain a successful walking program.

Nov. 1 - Dec. 13, 2022

Tuesdays, 12:30 - 2 p.m. & Thursdays, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Liberty Community Center (LCC)
Free and registration is required
Registration deadline is Oct. 28

Learn More & Register Today

Cooking with 4-H

4-H provides kids with community, mentors, and learning opportunities to develop the skills they need to create positive change in their lives and communities. In these classes, we will go over the importance of MyPlate and how to incorporate it into every meal.

Kids will also be able to take home recipes to recreate at home. Make sure you fill out the health form before the class to ensure all dietary restrictions are being followed. Liberty Parks & Rec and Clay County 4-H have partnered to offer the following workshops:

All American Breakfast Foods - Oct. 27
Holiday Cooking - Nov. 10
Let's Get Sweet - Dec. 15

Ages 8-12
5 - 6:30 p.m.
Liberty Community Center
$30 LCC Members | $33 Non-Member

Liberty Parks & Rec | 1600 S. Withers Road, Liberty, MO 64068 | 816.439.4360 | www.libertymissouri.gov/LPR