Prairie Gateway Chapter ASLA participated in PARKing Day by partnering with the North Kansas City Pint Path and Bike KC event in downtown North Kansas City. Chapter volunteers used product donations from sponsors to design and construct two "parklets." The first "parklet" filled six parking stalls with benches, plant materials and bike racks provided by Bike KC. Participants were encouraged to use the bikes to ride to other businesses and events along the Pint Path pub crawl route. The second "parklet," constructed in three stalls, was designed to be a more peaceful resting place outside a coffee shop.

For the Prairie Gateway Chapter ASLA, 2015 began with advocacy actions to protect landscape architecture licenses in both Kansas and Missouri. In Kansas, final revisions to the licensure laws were completed and Prairie Gateway President Steve Winslow testified in State Senate Sub-Committee hearings to gain support for the revisions and to press for the legislation to be brought to the House and Senate floor for vote. A chapter Advocacy Day on the Hill followed, with visits to legislators from both branches. These efforts proved to be beneficial, as the new licensure laws were signed into law later this spring by the Kansas Governor.

In Missouri, the Prairie Gateway Chapter joined with the St Louis Chapter at the Missouri State Capitol to visit with legislators to ask for support against deregulation of landscape architecture licensure.

The Annual Chapter Awards Gala took place on May 8th in downtown Kansas City. That evening, the Chapter awarded nine projects Merit or Honor Awards in three categories. The Chapter also awarded four Student Awards and two Chapter Awards. ASLA National President Elect Chad Danos, FALSA was present to provide an update from ASLA National, and the keynote speaker for the evening was Dr. Jan Schall from the Nelson Atkin Museum, who discussed the recently completed renovations to the museum and outdoor gallery spaces.

In conjunction with ASLA National, the Prairie Gateway Chapter worked to recognize World Landscape Architecture Month with a proclamation from Kansas Governor Sam Brownback. On March 27, the Chapter President and Vice President of Public Relations attended the proclamation signing at the State Capitol building in Topeka.

The Annual Chapter Awards Gala occurred May 8th in downtown Kansas City. That evening, the Chapter awarded nine projects Merit or Honor Awards in three categories. The Chapter also awarded four Student Awards and two Chapter Awards. ASLA National President Elect Chad Danos, FALSA was present to provide an update from ASLA National, and the keynote speaker for the evening was Dr. Jan Schall from the Nelson Atkin Museum, who discussed the recently completed renovations to the museum and outdoor gallery spaces. The Chapter extends special thanks to the speakers and to the Great Plains Chapter for jurying the award submissions.

On October 16, Prairie Gateway Chapter and event co-sponsor Sturgis Materials hosted the Chapter Annual Meeting. The keynote speakers were authors Dona Boley and Patrick Alley who discussed the process of researching, writing and publishing the book "Kansas City's Parks and Boulevards."

This summer the Chapter hosted a Sponsorship Appreciation Tailgate at a Kansas City Royals game to thank its annual sponsors for all of their support to make Chapter events possible. Everyone got together for the tailgate to socialize, network and share in some food and drink. Then the group took the party inside the stadium to watch the Royals beat the Chicago White Sox!

Prairie Gateway Chapter also participated in PARKing Day by partnering with the North Kansas City Pint Path and Bike KC event in downtown North Kansas City. Chapter volunteers used product donations from Chapter Sponsors to design and construct two "parklets." The first "parklet" filled six parking stalls with benches, plant materials and bike racks provided by Bike KC. Participants were encouraged to use the bikes to ride to other businesses and events along the pub crawl route. The second "parklet" was constructed in three stalls that were designed to be a more peaceful resting place outside a coffee shop. The event was such a great success and the PG Chapter was asked to continue it next year.

On October 16, Prairie Gateway Chapter and event co-sponsor Sturgis Materials hosted the Chapter Annual Meeting. The keynote speakers were authors Dona Boley and Patrick Alley who discussed the process of researching, writing and publishing the book "Kansas City's Parks and Boulevards."

Prairie Gateway has been very busy providing events and networking opportunities for members and sponsors to network and mingle. Says new Chapter President Misty Riley, "The more you put into an organization the more benefits you receive! So I am encouraging everyone to give the Chapter just one hour of your time in the coming year and together we can do great things!"