[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 105 (Monday, July 29, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1450]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       LEGISLATION TO CREATE A 2,800-ACRE PARK IN JOHNSON COUNTY

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                           HON. DENNIS MOORE

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 26, 2002

  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, on April 22, 2002, I introduced legislation 
in celebration of Earth Day that would create a 2,800-acre park in 
Johnson County on the former site of the Sunflower Army Ammunition 
Plant. Senator Pat Roberts has truly been a leader on this issue by 
inserting the language from our bills (S. 2107/H.R. 4544) into the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003. As the House 
and Senate go to conference to mitigate the differences between our two 
bills, I would like to strongly encourage the conferees to keep this 
important language in the final authorization bill.
  I have been working on this issue since I was sworn into office in 
January 1999. Johnson County has experienced rapid growth in recent 
years making it even more important that we set aside areas for parks 
and nature preserves now, before they are developed. The transfer would 
expand the borders of the 850-acre Kill Creek Park in Olathe, which 
opened last year.
  The greatest gift we can give to future generations is acres and 
acres of local parks and nature trails. I have four grandchildren; I 
would love nothing more than to be able to take them to play in the 
parks like the one this authorization language would create. By 
transferring this land from the federal government to local control, 
we'll continue to add to our local system of parks and recreation 
areas.

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