A dozen miles southwest of Kansas City, Mo. and about 25 miles east of Lawrence, Kan., is Lenexa, a city of 34.4 square miles that skilfully balances commercial and residential growth.
Founded in in 1907 (a week long celebration commemorated its founding this May) with just 507 persons, Lenexa was named for Na Nex Se, the wife of Shawnee tribal leader chief Thomas Blackhoof. Its early growth happened because of its position along part of the Santa Fe and Oregon trails.
Swiss, German and Belgian immigrants turned the village into a prosperous farming community during the early years of the 20th century. Their good work made its spinach crops nationally famous during the 1930s when it was knows as the "Spinach Capital of the World."
Today, a number of its late 19th/early 20th century structures are preserved in its Old Town district, a destination area of shops and restaurants.
Good interstate and highway access (it lies at the junction of I-35, I-435 and Kansas Highway 10) helped Lenexa boom in the 1970s and 2980s, when it was the fastest growing city in the state.
In recent years, residential development has blossomed west of I-435 and near the woods and grounds of Shawneed Mission Park, partially located within the city. New subdivisions also grow on the north side of Highway K-10 from Woodland Road west. Last year, Lenexa was No. 8 among all cities in the eight-county metropolitan area for single-family home building.
By 2010, the city is expected to hit 52,000 in population; eve3ntually, projections put its population at $75,000.
Commercial growth continues to be strong. Companies like J.C. Penney, Federal Express and United Parcel Service have major facilities here, and Southlake Technology Park is a respected high-tech center.
Progress continues on Lenexa City Center, a multi-year, mixed-use project that combines residential, entertainment and commercial facilities (and a proposed new civic center) on 62 acres at 87th Street Parkway and Renner Road near I-435. More development - including a new hospital and new retail centers - are planned for construction along K-7 Highway and the newly extended Prairie Star Parkway in west Lenexa.
Guiding the direction of residential and commercial development in the city is "Vision 2020," a community planning document that aims to create the balance necessary to a continued high quality of life.
Lenexa's Rain-to-Recreation program is dedicated to protecting water quality and habitats, reducing flooding and providing recreational and educational opportunities. Among its projects are the new 7.5-acre Mize Lake and the 35-acre Lenexa Lake and wetlands park dedicated last year in the west part of town. In other Rain-to-Recreation initiatives, the city is improving an existing park and lake on 27 acres near 83rd Street and Quivira and has acquired 100 acres near 91st street and Clare Road for a future lake, wetlands and park.
Locally, Lenexa is the "city of festivals" because it offers visitors and residents such interesting and family-oriented events as the May is Music celebration. the Great Lenexa Barbecue Batle and Kansas State Barbecue Championship every June, the Spinach & Trails Festival in September and the Williams Foods Chili Challenge in October.
Lenexa's 34 city parks include the 53-acre Sar-Ko-Par Trails park, site of many of its celebrations and home to an aquatics center and the Legler Stone Barn Historic Museum. the Lenexa Parks and Recreation Department oversees a community center, the National Guard Armory, a senior center, a conference center, 14 tennis courts, three pools and a skate park.
