Photo Gallery of Blind Boone Park, Warrensburg, MO 64093 WELCOME! Sculpture, Wind Harp, Reflexology Walkway, ADA

Above: Enjoying the sculpture of Boone. It is meant to be touched, and is part of the sensory walkway for the blind. Sitting on locally quarried limestone, this art piece is exciting and beautiful.

Above: The 2010 brochure for Blind Boone Park, by Sandy Irle.

Student groups and clubs (Kiwanis shown above) help with the hard work of clearing and building, cleaning and maintaining! Lots of great ideas have come from our work together, and the smiles tell the story!

Below: Photos of the Flower Hund Prairie Area. Designed and created by Marie Frye, established by Flower Hund, the prairie is now a service project for the Master Gardeners of Warrensburg! With its native plants, grasses and flowers, the prairie is beautiful to see and an inspiration for anyone who wants to Grow Native!

The windharp, designed by Ron Konzak. A true landmark in our community!

Click link below to view Mr. Konzak's site and learn more about the harp and the man who built it! (He also built the largest windharp in the world and is an architect, designer and author!)

Visit Mr. Konzak's site!

Below left: The windharp, by artist Ron Konzak, is a landmark leading to the park. 13' tall and played by a 10-15 mph wind, the harp is beautiful and a sound feature on the sensory walkway. Next to the harp, at the start of the rope walkway for the blind, is the audio box (push button) telling of the features of the park, and a sensory garden of scented and tactile plants to touch and smell.

Center: The sculpture of Blind Boone by artist Ai Qiu Hopen is a beautiful feature of the park. A sign behind the sculpture and an audio box (push button) near the sculpture tell the story of Mr. Boone.

Right: The sign to the entrance of the park suggests John William "Blind" Boone's connection with music. We invite you to study this amazing man's life! Mike Shaw, our local historian travels the country telling his story. Contact us to arrange a speaking engagement in your community!

Enjoy the Reflexology Walkway (left). Our sign includes a poster which was a gift from the International Institute of Reflexology! Take some time to sit with a free book from Peggie's Lending Library and relax on the locally made cedar bench, placed in the gazebo in honor of Peggie's son Kenneth.

The park is maintained by volunteers and by the Warrensburg Parks & Recreation Department. Call to rent the gazebo or with your comments and questions: 660-747-7178

Join Sandy Irle and our Adopt-A-Garden and Trail Ambassadors programs to help keep the park and our new bike / hike / ADA trail safe, clean and beautiful. You are the PUBLIC in the public parks, so make your mark here!

Lucille D. Gress, sitting on the stone that we placed in front of UMB bank downtown. We were waiting for the Blind Boone sculpture to arrive! What a happy day.

Reflections

This morning, I stepped out onto the landing and looked toward the east, part of my ritual for greeting a new day. Wisps of light gray clouds stood in sharp relief against the pinkish-lavender sky....As I watched, the orange red sun arced above the horizon, beginning yet another day. How like the events of my life, I reflected. Ordinary happenings become highlighted by the special meanings of experiences and turn events into memories.....

In my mind's eye, I look down the road, which disappears over the next rise. I am curious. I wonder what lies ahead....

I believe that the frontier yet to be developed lies in the area of human relations. While we have made advances in such areas as agriculture, technology, and space exploration, incidents of road rage and of abuse of human beings by human beings, the current illiteracy rates-all these indicate a lack of advancement in human relations.

Development of the ability to live together peacefully and productively becomes imperative for the welfare of people of various cultures, often living in crowded conditions. I would like to become a part of the movement to advance the field of human relations.

My memorial will consist of vestiges of whatever I may have contributed toward the common good of people, as I traveled life's highway. The legacy will pass on to succeeding generations. I believe that my immortality is part of an on-going intergenerational process.

~Lucille D. Gress / 1920-2003

Lucille was so generous.. She supported my efforts with the park project in so many ways and gave me strength to continue when I was unsure of my next step. Lucille was a driving force, constant supporter, inspiration, mentor and friend. I miss her greatly, but am still able to look to her for inspiration.

~Sandy

Note to music students at UCM: There is a scholarship available started by Lucille and myself. The Blind Boone Scholarship in Music. Check it out!

All photos taken by Sandra Irle, Director of the Blind Boone Park Renovation Group & volunteer with over 14,000 volunteer hours in the Blind Boone Park project.