The Lenexa Fire Department (LFD) continues to be recognized as one of the top-rated fire protection agencies in the world. For the second time in four years, the LFD has been named an Insurance Services Office (ISO) Class 1 community. Lenexa originally earned the Class 1 rating in 2014 and recently learned that the department maintained the top rating after ISO conducted a redetermination study. The ISO system measures the quality and effectiveness of municipal fire protection.

You will find a wide variety of products at the Lenexa Farmers Market, including produce, wine, honey, dairy, meat, baked goods, flowers, plants and microgreens. Produce is seasonal, so you can expect to find a variety of different items throughout the season. We know it is important to be confident where your produce comes from

The weather is warming up and that means Lenexa’s outdoor pools will soon be open! Starting on Saturday, May 26, all three outdoor pools -- Ad Astra pool, Flat Rock Creek pool and Indian Trails Aquatic Center – will join the Rec Center’s indoor pool in helping you and your family find relief from the summer heat. In order for you to take advantage of all four of these great pool sites, we have compiled some of the most important information below. However, for even more detailed information about hours, amenities and memberships, you can visit lenexa.com/pools.

After Mayor Boehm signs the annual Arbor Day proclamation at the April 17 City Council meeting, a basket of free saplings will be available in the lobby of City Hall while supplies last.

Ready to tackle some spring landscaping projects? Consider installing plants and projects that help naturally treat rain runoff and are eligible for reimbursement through Lenexa's Cost Share Program. Through this program, funded by a grant from Johnson County Stormwater Management and matching city dollars, we will reimburse you up to 75 percent of your costs for eligible items related to:

If you live in the Neighborhood Revitalization District (NRD) in eastern Lenexa, the Exterior Grant Reimbursement Program can help you make a wide range of improvements to your home.

Each year, the City of Lenexa’s Employee of the Year is chosen from more than 500 professionals who are dedicated to serving our community. This year, that honor goes to Master Police Officer Brad Martens. Brad began his career with the Lenexa Police Department in 1990 and his assignments have included Patrol Officer, School Resource Officer, Detective, Field Training Officer and Crisis Negotiator.

To aid in your spring cleaning efforts, the city is hosting a Dumpster Days event for Lenexa residents to dispose of large, unwanted items. The drop-off area will be open at Municipal Services Service Center (7700 Cottonwood St., Lenexa, KS) on Saturday, April 7 and Sunday, April 8 from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Please bring proof of residency such as a driver’s license or utility bill with a current Lenexa address.

Looking for a fun, free activity to do this summer? Grab the kids and get outside to solve the Playground Passport puzzle. It’s easy! Simply visit each of Lenexa’s 27 playgrounds, find the secret letter and number and complete the puzzle. You can participate in three ways:

Five Lenexa area students were honored at the April 3 Lenexa City Council meeting as winners of the city’s arts scholarships. We received 13 applications from graduating high school seniors, and a committee of art professionals from the Kansas City area reviewed each application and recommend scholarship recipients. Recipients must live in Lenexa and be planning to attend college next year.

A thousand miles west of Lenexa, artist Joe O’Connell is creating an interactive outdoor sculpture for the new Lenexa civic campus. At first glance, it might look like the sculpture’s two spheres have rolled out of the Rec Center and come to a stop on the Commons. But with a closer look, visitors will see that the spheres are an artistic interpretation of the original vision of Lenexa’s new downtown – a place where people come together and create community.

Road construction season has arrived, and sections of five major thoroughfares, about 15 subdivisions and a trail are slated to receive new surface treatments and other repairs as part of Lenexa’s 2018 Pavement Management Program. For 2018, Lenexa is investing approximately $5 million in pavement maintenance work, which consistently ranks as Lenexa’s top priority in community surveys. The blend of projects will improve the rideability of streets and help prevent major costly, disruptive repairs down the road.

The design-build process has begun on a new section of Ridgeview Road that will connect Kansas Highway 10 to Prairie Star Parkway. Once this project is completed, the new road will provide a vital transportation connection and open up the surrounding area to new development opportunities.

Now is your opportunity to shape the future of Lenexa by being part of the Vision 2040 strategic planning process. Vision 2040 is the third visioning process Lenexa has undertaken to guide our community’s progress. The first two, Vision 2020 and Vision 2030 set goals and priorities – some of which have already come to fruition.

To help gauge satisfaction with the delivery of major services, the City of Lenexa surveys residents every other year. The survey, administered by ETC Institute, helps determine priorities for the community as part of our on‐going planning process.

Want to work out at the Lenexa Rec Center occasionally, but not ready to become a member yet? Our new Day Pass Punch Card might be just right for you. The pass provides access to all Rec Center amenities for one day — including the indoor pool, walking track, gyms, fitness floor — plus admittance to one Group X fitness class.

You may have heard that a new rule was established regulating bicycles, skateboards and roller skates in Lenexa. There seems to be some confusion about this issue, and we wanted to share the facts about the new regulation.