INTRODUCTION TO GEZER PARK Leawood s Newest Gem

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1 INTRODUCTION TO GEZER PARK Leawood s Newest Gem The City of Leawood has completed construction of its newest park, which is not only beautiful, but vastly unique to the greater Kansas City metropolitan area. GEZER PARK (Geh-zer) is located at 133rd and Mission Road in south Leawood, at the heart of the southeast corridor of Johnson County, an area of rapid and well-planned development. The park is was built to honor Leawood s sister city relationship with the Gezer Region of Israel, which was established in September, Gezer is located about halfway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv in an area that is rich in agriculture, quite similar to Kansas. The unique park design reflects the contours of the State of Israel, with the Sea of Galilee on one end and the Dead Sea on the other connected by a 700 stone wadi that carries water from the west to east end of the park. Other completed amenities include: A shelter and restroom constructed with limestone, harvested in Israel complemented by red cedar. An agricultural tablet that depicts the harvest, created by artist Gadi Fraiman as a gift from the Gezer people and displayed at the park entrance. A bike rack And several benches An aromatic (Havdalah) garden (sure to be the focal point for a variety of celebrations and many other important community events) has been graciously funded but will not be constructed until summer in order to take advantage of more favorable weather conditions. Play is the universal silent language of children all over the world, and the Gezer play experience promises to be the destination for neighborhood and school children throughout the metropolitan area. It will not only provide an opportunity for play, but will also enhance the educational aspect of the park through the archeological dig area complete with fossils and other treasures to explore and learn. Some funding is available, but more is needed to purchase and complete the installation in Other amenities that are currently unfunded include: A fire pit for ceremonies and celebrations An open air shelter Tablet fountain Additional benches Now is the time to participate in the opportunity to bring the Gezer Region of Israel and the City of Leawood, Kansas, together through this unique venue and its unlimited recreational, cultural, and educational possibilities. We have enclosed an overview of the park plans and the concept of how to bring the vision of Leawood's newest gem to fruition. We urge you to please take just a few minutes of your time to review the information and the opportunities for your participation.

2 Public Art Avanium Vetseiadim (Stones and Steps) Artist- Ilan Averbuch The City of Leawood installed a new piece of public art in the park in late fall of The piece was commissioned by the Leawood Arts Council and was created by internationally acclaimed artist Ilan Averbuch. It was dedicated along with the park on October 20, The artist shares his view of the meaning of the piece: A ladder is a tool, a human creation, mimicking things we see in nature. It is steps into territories beyond our natural reach. A ladder has a physical dimension, but from very early on it has occupied the human mind as a dream and metaphor (e.g. Jacob s Ladder). As such, it has no limits, no scale and no physical explanation. In daily reality, we think of it as something that starts on solid ground, and we associate it with climbing up or down. However, through our poetic license it also has become an archetype, which despite accepting the facts of gravity, reaches out to the beyond. Water is seen as the beginning of life. We also see it as an element of cleansing. It reflects the circularity of life, but often in life and literature, it represents the unconscious the sea of the unknown. In this work I wanted to connect that sea of the unknown, which we search to understand, with our desires to reach out for more than what we have. This combination reflects the human condition, and in this work literally a reflection of one element in the other the ladder grows out of its reflection created in the water. Stone and water are opposites and are the materials from which I carve this image. They form a dialog with surprises and questions. I hope that each viewer will find his own range of answers to the questions posed here between the physical and the metaphysical.

3 The Park Design The park was designed with input from the people of the Gezer Region during a visit from the Leawood delegation in 2005 that included elected officials, committee members, and several Leawood citizens. Everything from landscaping to building materials, to the use of water elements, and even the shape of the park is reflective of what visitors might see in the Gezer Region of Israel. Hundreds of upright junipers and grasses bring an instant sense of place to the Park, as grape vine trellises and the addition of the harvest calendar, remind visitors of the important agricultural aspects of both regions.

4 Completed Architectural Elements Enclosed Shelter Featuring stone excavated from Israel on columns and red cedar accent materials. Restroom Facility Featuring unique cedar and limestone from Israel. Stone Wadi Carries water from west to east side of the park. Future Open-Air Shelter (To be constructed just north and east of the sculpture pond)

5 The Gezer Tablet/Harvest Calendar The Gezer Tablet has been successfully installed without the fountain as rendered above. All structures necessary to bring water to the future fountain have been constructed underground to be ready when the fountain is funded for construction. This added feature will bring the beauty and protection needed to complete the significance of the harvest tablet to fruition. The planting calendar has been inscribed in Hebrew by the artist, but will be enhanced through a future informational kiosk (sign) that will translate the message to English and explain the replication and purpose of the calendar, from the original recently excavated in Tel Gezer. The tablet is one of the oldest known examples of Hebrew writing, dating back to the 10th century BCE.

6 Future Playground Features The entire playground site, with play structure, climbing boulders, swings and sand digging area. The unique play structure and multiple climbing boulders will facilitate up to 120 children. The archeological fossil dig area will provide hours of entertainment and learning opportunities for a wide age range of children.

7 Park Amenities Bike Rack Bench-Style 1 Informational Kiosks Bench-Style 2

8 Future Amenities for Park Enhancement Through Private Donations AMENITY COST Playground Structure $200,000 Gezer Tablet Fountain $75,000 Open Air Shelter $75,000 Ceremonial (Lag B omer) Fire Pit $5,000 Aromatic (Havdalah) Garden $4,000 ( Funded) *All above items available for naming rights Educational Kiosk Signs (6 each) $4,000 Benches (6 each) $2,000 (1 Funded) (1 Funded)

9 Suggested Levels of Donor Support Platinum $10,000 Gold $5,000 Silver $2,000 Bronze $1,000 Pewter $500 (Donations of any denomination are welcome and will be acknowledged.)