Posted on Oct 23, 2023
In Baldwin City, Kansas, 'there's always something going on.' That didn't use to be true
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Most folks in the Kansas City region know Baldwin City for its famous fall festival. But the quaint city is also a college town with connections to Margaret Thatcher, a stop along the Santa Fe Trail, claim to the first armed conflicts of the Civil War and now, home to a charming and vibrant downtown.
Downtown Baldwin City was “sleepy” when the town’s current mayor, Casey Simoneau, moved there about 20 years ago.
“I maybe went downtown once a month, maybe twice a month,” Simoneau said.
Then local folks stepped up. They renovated buildings, which new businesses happily occupied. Local leaders built a micro-park, hosted community events and downtown Baldwin City — just 20 minutes south of Lawrence, Kansas, — was transformed.
“Now it’s kind of the central focus of our community,” Simoneau said.
Most folks in the region know Baldwin City for its famous fall festival. But the quaint city is also a college town with connections to Margaret Thatcher, a stop along the Santa Fe Trail, claim to the first armed conflicts of the Civil War and now, home to a charming and vibrant downtown.
Downtown Baldwin City was “sleepy” when the town’s current mayor, Casey Simoneau, moved there about 20 years ago.
“I maybe went downtown once a month, maybe twice a month,” Simoneau said.
Then local folks stepped up. They renovated buildings, which new businesses happily occupied. Local leaders built a micro-park, hosted community events and downtown Baldwin City — just 20 minutes south of Lawrence, Kansas, — was transformed.
“Now it’s kind of the central focus of our community,” Simoneau said.
Most folks in the region know Baldwin City for its famous fall festival. But the quaint city is also a college town with connections to Margaret Thatcher, a stop along the Santa Fe Trail, claim to the first armed conflicts of the Civil War and now, home to a charming and vibrant downtown.
In Baldwin City, Kansas, 'there's always something going on.' That didn't use to be true
Posted from kcur.org
Baldwin City
Kansas City
Baker University
American History
Civil War
Posted 7 mo ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."'An opportunity for us to come together'
Every year the Maple Leaf Festival brings 30,000-40,000 people downtown for craft booths, food, music and fall festivities. That’s huge for a town of less than 5,000 people, but it’s only one weekend a year.
Simoneau realized that Baldwin City had a real need for a place where folks could gather. Sullivan Square filled that need.
“We were not a disjointed community, but we definitely weren’t a tight-knit, close community where everybody came together,” Simoneau said. “This space really has created an opportunity for us to come together as a community.”
The small greenspace nestled in the heart of downtown emerged in 2020 from an empty lot as an event space with a covered stage, sound system and plenty of room to gather.
The park is booked most weekends in the warmer months with events that bring in Baldwin residents and folks from surrounding areas."...
..."'An opportunity for us to come together'
Every year the Maple Leaf Festival brings 30,000-40,000 people downtown for craft booths, food, music and fall festivities. That’s huge for a town of less than 5,000 people, but it’s only one weekend a year.
Simoneau realized that Baldwin City had a real need for a place where folks could gather. Sullivan Square filled that need.
“We were not a disjointed community, but we definitely weren’t a tight-knit, close community where everybody came together,” Simoneau said. “This space really has created an opportunity for us to come together as a community.”
The small greenspace nestled in the heart of downtown emerged in 2020 from an empty lot as an event space with a covered stage, sound system and plenty of room to gather.
The park is booked most weekends in the warmer months with events that bring in Baldwin residents and folks from surrounding areas."...
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