Reaching New Heights in Enhancing the Lives of Our Residents
Fastest Growing City in the Kansas City Metro
Ranked 7th Safest City in Kansas
7th Best Place to Live in Kansas
20th Consecutive Tree City USA
Gardner is the fastest-growing city in the Kansas City Metro
for cities with at least 20,000 people. This growth is a testament to the high quality of life Gardner offers, and we’re dedicated to reaching new heights for our community. With our expanding and diverse population, we recognize the importance of addressing the unique journeys and needs of all residents. In 2023, we seized opportunities to nurture our community by enhancing leisure programs and activities for both youth and adults and strategically advancing the city’s parks and trails system. This included the introduction of our first inclusive playground, providing a welcoming space for children of all abilities. Additionally, we improved police training to better equip officers for the diverse situations they encounter, acknowledging that growth often leads to increased demands on law enforcement. We also expanded outreach programs and initiatives through the Gardner Police Department to strengthen the relationship between community members and the police, fostering a sense of belonging for all residents.
Jason Bruce
Parks & Recreation Director
In 2023, the Parks and Recreation Department celebrated a record number of participants in our programs and events. A major highlight was the introduction of the city’s first-ever inclusive playground at Veterans Park, now welcoming hundreds of visitors weekly and fostering a sense of belonging for children of all abilities. We also strengthened community bonds by improving connections between neighborhoods, parks and commercial areas through securing funding for the South Center Street Trail Replacement Project. The Parks and Recreation Department remains committed to discovering new and exciting activities to enhance the quality of life for all our citizens for years to come.
Pam Waldeck
Police Chief
Pam Waldeck
Police Chief
In 2023, the Gardner Police Department underwent significant changes. We increased our sworn authorized strength from 38 to 40 to accommodate a fourth School Resource Officer position. A new supervisor position was created to oversee our specialized units and Support Services Officer, who provides Animal Control and Codes Enforcement services. Additionally, we reorganized our rank structure to level the front-line supervisor role by eliminating the rank of Corporal.
Recruiting, training, team building, and aligning the police department’s growth with the city’s growth remain top priorities to ensure our continued success. To help guide us, all members of the Gardner Police Department collaborated to identify our core values and establish a mission statement that reflects the collective efforts of our team.
In 2023, the Patrol Division handled 21,043 calls for service, averaging 58 calls per day and 2.4 calls per hour, marking a 7% increase from the 19,527 calls for service in 2022. The Gardner Police Department also participated in approximately 41 community events, emphasizing community engagement. Our focus continues to be on recruiting and retention, community policing, and traffic safety.
Updated the Parks Master Plan
Upgraded security camera system at Celebration Park and the Gardner Aquatic Center
Completed the first inclusive playground
Introduced new diverse recreational activities and programs
Hunter Safety Course
Father-Son Birdhouse Building
Provided active threat training at Gardner Edgerton High School in partnership with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office
Added an additional School Resource Officer position in an effort to enhance safety in the schools
Participated in 41 community engagement events to cultivate trust and strengthen the bond between law enforcement and the public
Implemented a virtual reality system for simulation training in decision-making and de-escalation
Did You Know?
The Gardner Police Department hosted its first Teen Driving Academy, which instructed teens about road hazards and how to avoid them.
Thank you for celebrating Independence Day with us!
Gardner’s biggest event of the year! There were food trucks, great music, activities for the whole family, and the best fireworks show in town. This is an annual free summer event, so be sure to join us next year!