History:
In 1990, the city of Overland Park researched ways to provide additional services to neighborhoods and to maintain the great character and quality of life present in its neighborhoods.

After running a pilot program, the Neighborhood Conservation Program was created to provide special services for neighborhoods and to help build a sense of community in the city of Overland Park.

The NCP designated 48 neighborhood planning areas north of 95th Street. These neighborhood boundaries were established to organize neighborhood residents for community building purposes.

To date, 33 organizations have been organized.

Purpose:
The NCP promotes community building by:

• Assisting with organizing and supporting neighborhood groups, organizations and homes associations.
• Providing a forum for communications between neighbors and between residents and the city.
• Addressing neighborhood and community challenges.
• Building upon opportunities.

  Organization of New Neighborhood Groups:

  • Identify neighborhoods for organization.
  • Sponsor an initial organizing meeting.
  • Provide extensive support and guidance for the first year.
  • NSP Selection and Organizing Process

  Support Existing and Potential Neighborhood Groups:

  • Design and mail newsletters, fliers and agendas.
  • Provide ideas and guidance.
  • Serve as a resource of information on grants, city activities, new programs and policies.
  • Provide leadership training.
  • Motivate residents and neighborhood leaders.

  Build Communication Links:

  • Encourage residents to meet each other.
  • Encourage residents to communicate concerns to the neighborhood group.
  • Provide two-way communication between the city and neighborhood groups.
  • Provide contact information for various city departments regarding neighborhood issues.
  • Provide training regarding communicating with residents in need.

  Address Challenges and Build on Opportunities:

  • Help residents identify their neighborhood group's purpose and goals.
  • Assist groups in developing approaches to implement projects.
  • Invite all interested parties to communicate.
  • Provide information and research regarding problems or issues.
  • Establish relationships with police to ensure drug-free and crime-free neighborhoods.

Staff Support:

Support:

• Provide guidance and assistance with the organizing process in the first three years with limited support after three years.
• Provide a start up grant for new neighborhood groups to use for neighborhood activities.
• Help identify and address neighborhood issues through problem solving.
• Provide assistance with preparing a neighborhood plan for those neighborhood groups wishing to do so.
• Design, publish, distribute and analyze neighborhood-wide questionnaires.
• Provide neighborhood maps and statistics for problem identification and solving.

Education:

• Provide training sessions to leaders and members about organizing and operating a successful neighborhood group.
• Update neighborhood groups of city activities, ordinances and policies.
• Serve as a liaison between neighborhood groups and city staff.
• Provide updates and additions to the "How to.." manual provided to neighborhood group leaders.

Administration:

• Help publish and distribute agendas and meeting notices to officers and steering committee members.
• Publish and distribute a quarterly newsletter to the entire neighborhood.
• Publish and distribute three fliers for meetings and special events.
• Set up room reservations for meetings and special activities.
• Organize, prepare and distribute agendas for the Executive Committee meetings.
• Publish and distribute an annual newsletter to all organized neighborhoods on behalf of the Neighborhood Conservation Program.

The Community Services section of the Planning and Development Services Department administers the Neighborhood Conservation Program.