The Overland Park City Council on Nov. 3 presented the Legacy of Greenery awards recognizing landscape excellence and approved reappointments to the Legacy of Greenery Committee and to the Planning Commission.

City forester Laura Peterson, joined by city forester Bailey Patterson, presented awards highlighting commercial, park and institutional landscapes the Legacy of Greenery Committee selected for 2024. Peterson introduced the committee and noted the awards recognize initial design, continued maintenance and preservation of landscape features that support the city's urban canopy and public spaces.

The committee selected three recipients: the University of Kansas Health System, Indian Creek campus; Tuileries Park (a neighborhood pocket park maintained by volunteers and HOA efforts); and Queen of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church, which received a continued landscape excellence award recognizing long‑term maintenance and enhancements.

Representatives from the winning sites came forward to receive plaques and yard signs. City staff provided a short visual presentation describing the plantings, trees and site features that contributed to the committee's decisions.

The council also approved reappointments to the Legacy of Greenery Committee and a reappointment to the Planning Commission without recorded opposition. In closing remarks the mayor and staff thanked volunteers and maintenance crews for their long‑term stewardship of the city's landscape and tree canopy.

Reporting notes: Quotes and attributions in this article are taken from the Nov. 3 council meeting transcript. Where presenters described specific plant species and design features, the article paraphrases those remarks rather than providing a complete plant list.