LAHARPE — Ongoing efforts by the LaHarpe PRIDE Committee to improve the city park and other areas around town have drawn notice by the state.
Kansas PRIDE, Inc., which oversees PRIDE groups across the state, has designated LaHarpe a “Community of Excellence.”
The designation runs from 2017 through 2019.
“This designation recognizes your PRIDE community as a community that is operating at a high level of expertise related to community development including assessment, planning, action and evaluation.”
Chiefly among the benefits is that LaHarpe is eligible to apply for the Kansas PRIDE Partners in PRIDE competitive grant program. LaHarpe also is eligible to apply for a mini project grant of up to $2,000.
The announcement came at Wednesday’s LaHarpe City Council meeting.
An ongoing playground installation project is the latest park improvement effort involving PRIDE.
In 2014, members added new siding to the concession stand at the city’s softball diamond; 2015’s work focused on adding a popular zipline apparatus.
Once the current project is complete — members have installed the equipment but must wait for the weather to warm to clear dirt and debris from the site in order for treated mulch to be added — PRIDE members will set their focus on refurbishing a nearby sand volleyball court.
Similar designations have been awarded to Iola and Humboldt PRIDE groups in recent years.
LaHarpe recognized as ‘Community of Excellence’
