News Releases

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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Friday, March 19, 2010 News from the City of Lawrence

1)   Batting cages open for public use

2)   Census 2010: Questionnaires arrive in mailboxes

3)   City infrastructure improvement projects for the week of March 22

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Prepared by: Deepa Sampat, 785-832-3458

1)   Batting cages open for public use

(Lawrence, Ks.) - The batting cages at Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department’s Clinton Lake Softball Complex, 5101 Speicher Rd., are now open to the public.

The facility features four slow-pitch softball stations, two fast-pitch softball stations, one major-league baseball station, two minor-league baseball stations and one rookie station. One token buys 20 pitches; tokens may be purchased on site at a cost of $1 per token or seven tokens for $5.

In addition, tokens may also be purchased at the Community Building, 115 W. 11^th St., at a rate of 15 tokens for $10 or 25 tokens for $15.

Facility hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Extended hours of 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday will begin April 4.

For more information, contact Tim Laurent, facilities operations supervisor, (785) 832-7920.

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Contact: Megan Gilliland, communications manager, (785) 832-3406

2)   Census 2010: Questionnaires arrive in mailboxes

(Lawrence, Ks.) – This week, Lawrence residents received their Census 2010 questionnaires in the mail. Residents are encouraged to complete the 10-question census form when it arrives and return it in the accompanying pre-paid envelope as soon as possible.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, for every one -percent increase in households that respond by mail, taxpayers save about $85 million in operational costs associated with census takers going door to door to follow up with households that did not mail back the form. In the 2000 Census, 72% of households in the nation mailed back their questionnaires. 

The 2010 Census is an actual count of everyone living in the United States and it is mandated by the U.S. Constitution. Every year, the federal government allocates more than $400 billion to states and communities based, in part, on census data. In Douglas County, that equates to over $180 million in grants that support our local community. Census data is used to determine locations for retail stores, schools, hospitals, childcare centers, senior service centers, new housing developments and other community facilities. Census data provides funding for highways, local transit, school lunch programs, grants for home rehabilitation and education programs that keep our schools drug free. Congressional seats are allocated to states based on Census data. 

Please do your part to make sure Lawrence is completely counted!

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Contact: Megan Gilliland, communications manager, (785) 832-3406

3)   City infrastructure improvement projects for the week of March 22

(Lawrence, Ks) - Infrastructure improvement projects for the week March 22.

Project: West 31^st Street maintenance

Traffic Impact:

East and westbound lanes from Ousdahl Road east to the city maintenance limits will be milled, patched and overlaid. 

Project: Water line replacement

Traffic Impact:

Clare Road, East 19^th Street to Maple Lane, no parking and road will be closed to thru traffic from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Miller Drive, East 21^st to Maple Lane, no parking, road closed to thru traffic from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Centennial Drive, from 9^th Street to Yale, no parking, road closed to thru traffic from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Project: North Second Street and Locust intersection

Traffic Impact:

North Second Street, southbound traffic at Locust reduced to one lane

North Second Street, northbound traffic detoured to Elm Street, to North Third Street and to Lyon Street

Locust, closed at North Second Street

BUS REROUTES

 Route 4 to reroute during North Second Street project

Route 4 is rerouted in North Lawrence during construction at N 2nd and Locust Streets. Passengers wishing to catch the northbound bus on Locust will need to do so between North Third and North Seventh. After departing I-70 Business Center, the southbound bus will continue south on North Second Street across the bridge and back on route. Passengers wishing to catch the bus in the neighborhoods will need to do so on the northbound trip.

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