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Time Line |
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1996-1998 |
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Washburn-Lane Parkway planning begins; a TAT "town-hall" meeting is held about Dillons wherein the TAT concluded it does not want a super-store, just some improvements; the TAT has a series of three meeting with Dillons and learns about the grocery business; conversations and written proposals with Dillons about donating land for a park and allowing a mural on the back of the store; Dillons makes some improvements to the store and landscaping. The TAT gets the Washburn-Lane Parkway lighting project plan developed, presented to the City, and begins to raise money to implement. |
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1999-2003 |
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Phases 1 and 2 of the lighting and trees go in, Phase 3 funding is applied for, the Parkway Plan is updated and becomes part of both the general Comprehensive Plan but also the Trails Plan, the $23 million Library upgrade is completed, over $2 million in additional improvements are documented along the Parkway; sidewalk cleanups involving neighborhood residents and students from Washburn University have begun, very successfully, at least once per year. |
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November 2003 |
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Don Rice writes to the head of Kroger's and gets a response; David Leamon finds an Aaron Douglas print in the Library's collection. They both bring their news to the November Washburn-Lane Parkway Committee meeting. |
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The project is "on fire". Dave Loewenstein and Stan Herd and Kevin Willmott are engaged to help, the Topeka Community Foundation offers to help the TAT raise funds, TAT members take a selection of Aaron Douglas works for feedback from the community, contacts are made with Aaron Douglas's family members in Topeka and others for support and permissions to use the works. |
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April 2004 |
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| An incredible fundraiser reception is held at the Library. Keynoted by Howard Dodson from the Schomberg Center in Harlem (home of Topeka's selected work), the event was a lot of fun, was attended by an exciting representation from Topeka's African-American community and more traditional arts donors, and over $10,000 was raised. Dillons donated a quarter block of land for the project just before the event. April 2004 on - Eventually over $70,000 was raised, with over 25% of the 125 donors being from the Black community. |
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March - May 2005 |
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| The mural wall was built. Over 100 volunteers, young and old, painted the mural on the wall under the supervision of artist David Loewenstein. They were also assisted by the visible presence of artist Stan Herd. Prior to the beginning of the painting, Dave Loewenstein presented a slide presentation and talk about public art and Aaron Douglas to classes in the five schools who were most involved in the project. Topeka High created a studio for Dave to do the working drawings on-site in Topeka, adjacent to their art classes, to prepare for the painting. The press and the community were very supportive. |
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May 2005 |
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Landscaping and a serpentine sidewalk, paid for by the TAT and installed by the City, including the now-famous "sweet spot", was installed by the City. Drafts of four "story boards" about Aaron Douglas and his work, black neighborhoods in Topeka, and the donors for the project were displayed. The final boards were installed over the summer. |
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The Wall was dedicated, with a huge crowd of people, great music and accolades, and a lot of joy. During the course of that week, the TAT recorded oral histories from a number of people who had been involved with the Wall, including people who had grown up on the site. |
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Since then |
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| People tell us they look forward to "and have even changed" their routes home so that they can look at the wall every day. The completed wall has not been touched with graffiti. Some additional trees have been planted in the part and a water line installed. The TurnAround Team has begun to work on planning additional arts improvements and events. |
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