NOTO & SCPR Breezeway Park Ribbon Cutting Saturday, July 17

The NOTO Arts and Entertainment District in partnership with Shawnee County Parks and Recreation and the Topeka Zoo, will have a formal dedication of Breezeway Park Saturday, July 17, 2021. Music will be provided by Josh Hoover starting at 9:30 as well as a special exhibit by the Topeka Zoo. The formal dedication will begin at 10:00 with an official ribbon cutting. Children can pick up a special limited copy of the book "Juma the Giraffe" provided by Kaw Valley Bank, and many NOTO businesses are offering special coupons for attendees.

Breezeway park, which is owned by Shawnee County Parks and Recreation and managed by the NOTO organization, is located on the east side of the 800 block of North Kansas Ave. Previously, this narrow strip of land was generally considered a public passageway before a total transformation occurred within this last year making it more attractive and family friendly.

"As we continue to enhance NOTO and expose art to the community it's important for us to be as inclusive as we can. We realized we were lacking in outdoor areas that encourage creativity and exploration for our youth. The enhancements that were made to Breezeway Park bring us one step closer to bridging those gaps," said program coordinator Staci Ogle.

The creative atmosphere that can be experienced in the park was made possible through the vision and hard work of local artists within the district. Children are encouraged to visit the park and interact with the murals, take a photo next to Otto, or climb on the various cement structures that have been added to the park.

"Most of what we accomplish in NOTO is done through collaborations and partnerships. The transformation of a plain, non-descript walkway to a fun and lively celebration of art was made possible through the partnership between NOTO, the Shawnee County Parks and Recreation department, and the Topeka Zoo," said Thomas Underwood, Executive Director of the NOTO Arts and Entertainment District. "What a great example of what we can do for the community through collaboration."