As we prepare to turn the page on another year, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the milestones, accomplishments and events that made 2024 unforgettable. From exciting new projects and improvements to cherished traditions, it’s been a year filled with progress and pride for our community.
Join us as we celebrate the highlights of the past year and look ahead to what the future holds.
January
Behind Closed (Barn) Doors: An inside look at the world of Farmstead goats
The barn doors may be closed to visitors in January, but Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead is always BAH-ursting with excitement. The Farmstead gave an inside look at the process of bringing baby goats into the world and the impeccable care they receive.
As the year comes to a close, the mama goats are already growing new babies for the 2025 Farmstead season. Join us when the Farmstead opens on April 1 to meet the baby goats and dozens of other animals.
February
Smithsonian’s Pollination Investigation exhibit opened at LongHouse Visitor Center
The bilingual exhibition featured seven “pollinator profiles” for bees, beetles, butterflies, hummingbirds, flies, moths and wind (along with special references to bats and water). Using a field journal theme, each profile described the pollinators’ favorite flowers based on floral characteristics, encouraging exploration into flower shape, color, scent and more. This exhibit remained open through the fall.
March
Mayor Skoog’s State of the City Address
Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog presented his State of the City address on March 5 at the University of Kansas Edwards Campus. During his address, Mayor Skoog shared community updates from the past year and considered Overland Park’s future quality of life, land use, housing, environment, economic well-being and mobility through the lens of the City’s new comprehensive plan, Framework OP.
April
Overland Park experienced a partial solar eclipse on April 8. Many residents and visitors gathered at the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens for an unobstructed view of the sky. Our next opportunity to view a solar eclipse from the majority of the United States won’t occur again until August 2044!
Lime scooters and bikes rolled into Overland Park
A fleet of Lime all-electric scooters, seated scooters and bikes rolled into Overland Park, offering a convenient and eco-friendly way to navigate your neighborhood. The Overland Park City Council approved a partnership with Lime, offering residents a fun and environmentally friendly way to commute to work, explore local attractions or simply cruise around town. While Lime picked up the scooters and bikes for the winter, we expect they will return in 2025.
OP earns “Triple Crown of government finance awards
The City won three awards for excellence in government finance. The Government Finance Officers Association recognizes excellence in public finance. The City’s Finance Department received the organization’s certificate for excellence in financial reporting, GFOA’s award for outstanding achievement in popular annual financial reporting and the distinguished budget presentation awards program. To see the award-winning documents, visit the City’s website at opkansas.org/Finance.
May
Overland Park joins LEED for Cities Local Government Leadership Program
The City of Overland Park joined the 2024 national cohort of the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for Cities Local Government Leadership Program. The LEED for Cities program helps local governments committed to sustainability and advancing resilience and social equity by measuring and tracking performance using the LEED for Cities rating system. Find more information about the LEED for Cities Local Government Leadership Program and its rating system at usgbc.org.
Overland Park adopts new community-driven plan
After nearly two years of community engagement, the Overland Park City Council adopted FrameworkOP, the City’s new comprehensive plan, at its meeting on May 6. The process to update FrameworkOP started in 2022 with a community kickoff event. Throughout the planning process, more than 2,000 Overland Park residents, business owners, visitors and others were involved, sharing their hopes for the community’s future.
June
Arboretum debuts summer movie nights series
Summer Movie Nights brought families, friends and movie lovers together for unforgettable evenings under the stars, featuring showings of “Top Gun: Maverick,” “The Goonies” and “Elemental.”
City debuted reconstructed Fire Station 41
The City held a hose uncoupling ceremony and open house on Friday, June 28 at the reconstructed Fire Station 41. The new facility, located at 7550 W. 75th Street, is built on the original Marty Memorial Station site and the adjacent property. Prioritizing sanitation and staff safety, the design of Fire Station 41 features new decontamination areas and expanded spaces separating equipment and living quarters. The station also incorporates modern design best practices, offering individual, single-user living quarters and restrooms.
July
City announces branding update
The City of Overland Park began a process to update its brand. Overland Park’s existing brand, “Above and Beyond. By Design.” was developed in 2007 as a joint project between the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce, Visit Overland Park and the City of Overland Park.
Since that time, the city has grown and changed substantially. The City’s branding update is currently underway!
Two OP athletes traveled to Paris for the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympic Games
Two of Overland Park’s very own qualified to represent the United States in the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympic Games. Leanne Wong traveled as an alternate for the U.S. women’s gymnastics team. Yaseen El-Demerdash competed on the men’s Paralympic swim team. Both Leanne and Yaseen proudly list Overland Park as their hometown. To help cheer on these OP athletes and all of Team USA, City Hall lit up in red, white and blue ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics opening ceremony.
August
OP broke ground on Bietigheim-Bissingen Park
Shovels hit the dirt on Friday, Aug. 9 for the groundbreaking ceremony of Bietigheim-Bissingen Park, a new City park at 159th and Quivira. Named after Overland Park’s sister city in Germany, the new park plans to weave culture with recreation. Construction on the park began in fall 2024 and the park is scheduled to open in late 2025. Learn more about the park and follow along with the progress at opkansas.org/BBPark.
City returned relic of royalty to rightful owner
In 1966, the country watched as Overland Park’s own Debbie Bryant was crowned Miss America, the first ever from Kansas. Earlier this year, Overland Park’s maintenance staff discovered road signs proudly boasting, “City of Overland Park: Home of Miss America 1966, Debbie Bryant,” in storage at a maintenance facility. Public Works staff knew one of the signs should reunite with its namesake. Currently living in Arizona, Bryant received this special piece of her beloved hometown in the mail more than five decades after earning her Miss America title, celebrating her remarkable achievements and legacy.
The Urban Forest Plan process begins
The City laid the roots for its Urban Forest Plan by conducting an online survey, seeking feedback on the strategic vision to preserve and enhance the city’s tree canopy. Key features of the plan include preservation and growth, diversity and resilience and sustainable practices. The Urban Forest Plan will seamlessly integrate into Playbook OP, the Parks and Recreation Long Range Plan.
September
City Council approves 2025 Budget
Overland Park’s 2025 Budget continues to work toward improving City infrastructure and implementing Overland Park’s strategic goals while balancing the possibility of a cooling economy. The budget is aligned with the City’s strategic goals and the results of Overland Park’s community survey. The new budget takes effect on Jan. 1, 2025. To view the budget, visit opkansas.org/Budget.
October
OP swears in new Chief of Police
The City of Overland Park swore in its next Chief of Police Doreen Jokerst on Oct. 14. As Chief of Police, Jokerst now leads a department of 330 full-time employees, including 280 sworn officers. Chief Jokerst holds a Doctor of Education degree in Leadership for Educational Equity, a master’s degree in psychology and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. She brings extensive experience in public safety, leadership and community engagement, having served as the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Safety and Chief of Police at the University of Colorado Boulder for the past six years.
Call for artists at the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
The City of Overland Park, in cooperation with the Arts and Recreation Foundation of Overland Park, invited artists to submit proposals for artwork that reflects the natural beauty of the Arboretum’s gardens and landscapes for permanent installation at LongHouse Visitor Center. The selected pieces will be displayed in The Gallery of LongHouse, an upper-level hallway leading to the garden entry. The City received more than 700 proposals! The chosen masterpieces will be revealed next spring/summer.
November
OP Strategic Communications Director named Kansas Communicator of the Year
The Kansas Association of Public Information Officers named Overland Park Strategic Communications Director Meg Ralph the Kansas Communicator of the Year! Known for her storytelling finesse and knack for sharing information quickly and effectively, Meg is the voice behind so much of what you see and read (but no, she didn’t write this!). From impactful communications initiatives to navigating challenging situations with a steady hand, Meg embodies leadership, creativity and an unwavering commitment to public trust.
The City along with T-Mobile and Black & Veatch hosted a Veterans Day celebration on Nov. 6, paying tribute to the courageous men and women who served our nation and continue to inspire our community. This year’s Veterans Day celebration offered a chance to explore helicopters and military equipment and hear from veteran-friendly organizations dedicated to supporting veterans and their families.
December
Overland Park bid farewell to the Farmers’ Market Pavilion
Market-goers celebrated the final Farmers’ Market of the season Dec. 7. This year’s Holiday Market marked a significant milestone as the final market held at the current pavilion before the City began a major renovation project. During the event, attendees wrote farewell messages on the pavilion, creating a lasting tribute to this cherished space. The pavilion will be donated to Garnett, Kansas, where it will continue to serve as a farmers’ market structure. The Farmers’ Market will operate at Matt Ross Community Center for the 2025 season.
Awards & Recognition:
- Best Cities for Jobs, WalletHub
- 10 Best Places to Live for Families, Travel & Leisure
- Happiest Cities in America, WalletHub
- Top 100 Best Places to Live, Livability.com
- Best Cities to Buy a House in America, Niche
- Best Places to Rent in America, WalletHub
- Best Cities for People with Disabilities, WalletHub
View a full list at opkansas.org/awards.