Before Lincoln Center Improvement Committee and before PRIDE, there was a small group of engaged citizens who formed Lincoln Improvement Committee. The group’s main intention was to brainstorm ways to improve the quality of life in Lincoln County. The population had been dwindling each year, young people were moving away, and the overall population was aging. Shortly after, a group of volunteers began helping homeowners clean up their properties. A group consisting of a core of about eight people enlisted the help of the city and volunteers, removing debris from various properties, trimming trees and even razing decrepit properties. The county agreed to reduce landfill fees, the responsibility of the homeowner, in favor of continual clean-up of the community.
In 1970, a new program called Kansas PRIDE was created to increase community vitality throughout the state. The program provided recognition, funding and leadership development for Kansas community volunteer improvement groups to celebrate their successes and address challenges unique to their community.
Lincoln PRIDE was established in 2014. With the City’s approval and participation, the group was able to apply for grants from multiple sources, creating the funding to complete projects.
On a state level, individual PRIDE chapters helped facilitate cleanup and community spirit. One community opened a thrift shop to help fund PRIDE projects. Others have opened grocery stores or farmers markets, renovated buildings that had definitely seen brighter days and purchased new equipment for their parks.
Locally, Lincoln PRIDE has made improvements in the appearance of the city park by cleaning out long abandoned flower beds and replanting, up and down Lincoln Avenue by cleaning up the grass that had grown over some of the limestone sidewalk slabs, providing an American Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant swing for the park and placing a “Mommy & Me” swing in the park. With the help of a grant, the group staged a major cleanup, removing old tires. Because there is a dump fee for tires, they tend to pile up in yards, creating health and safety concerns. The grant covered the dump fees for this project. They have also worked with the Upward Bound program for the last two years that enhanced the community.
Kansas PRIDE helped communities for 53 years before the name changed. Now the Kansas Community Empowerment program (KCE), administered by K-State Research and Extension is still a volunteer-based grassroots effort to improve the quality of life in local communities. At the same time, Lincoln PRIDE changed its name to Lincoln Center Improvement Committee (LCIC).
Membership in this committee has ebbed and flowed. Currently there are six members including Lisa Feldkamp, Chris Gerbitz, Carly Errebo, Shelby Errebo, Breanna Brown and Vicki Hook.
With the profits from their last fundraiser, a baked potato bar on March 17, LCIC is happy to announce they have completed the fundraising efforts for their In-Ground Musical Instrument Set project. The set of four in-ground instruments include Swirl Chimes, Yantzee Metallophone, Imbarimba and Tuned Drums, which will be installed in the spring. The total cost of all four instruments was $26,000 and funded by three years of fundraising through events such as Sunday Dinners, Duck Race during Post Rock Festival, private individuals and business donations, along with a variety of grants. Studies have shown that outdoor musical instruments stimulate all five senses, help build social and emotional connections and encourage creativity, which are keys for fostering a positive community mindset.
The group’s mission is to continue to uplift community pride through neighborly assistance in the beautification of Lincoln Center, with a mission that ensures that every building, residence, yard, garden, street, alley and open space in Lincoln Center will look well-kept, maintained, welcoming and free of trash and overgrown vegetation.
For more information, check the group’s Facebook page. Lincoln Center Improvement Committee. There is a link on that page for anyone who might desire more involvement in the community, create a positive impact and have fun while working with a dynamic group of people for the benefit of neighbors.
