Tag Archives: Landreth Park

Joplin celebrates 149th birthday, honoring who occupied this land first, The Osage Nation

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JOPLIN, Mo. — Wednesday, March 23, 2022, marked the dedication and introduction of the Joplin Heritage Trail which will be located in Landreth Park. 

It also was the 149th birthday of the town of Joplin.

It’s part of honoring the past of Joplin and leading to the 150th birthday next year, known as the sesquicentennial.

In the future there will be more than 20 storyboards located along the Heritage Walking Trail in Landreth Park.

Pat Tuttle, Joplin Convention and Visitors Bureau, stated at the dedication it seemed appropriate to start where Joplin began, here along Joplin Creek.

Dr. Chad Stebbins of Missouri Southern State University shared the vision of the storyboards, beginning with who had roamed these lands before white settlers, Osage Nation.

“Joplin was born 149 years ago today, March 23, 1873. The Governor of Missouri appointed Elliott Moffett as the city’s first Mayor.

Today marks a year-long kick off of the city sesquicentennial.

We are here today to mark the three points of interest on the new Joplin Heritage Trail which is a legacy project of the Joplin Celebrations Commission.

We wanted to tell the story of Joplin in chronological order with a series of markers or storyboards.

Early in we decided the first one absolutely had to be about the Osage Nation. The Osage were the first inhabitants of this area 1,000 years ago. The area immediately surrounding Joplin was one of their hunting grounds.

The Osage got water from Center Creek, Turkey Creek, Shoal Creek, Spring River, and Joplin Creek.

We believe this marker honoring the Osage Nation is the first such marker in the Joplin area.”

The second storyboard tells the story of early white settlers William Tingle, John Cox and Rev. Harris Joplin.

The third already placed just south of Pool Ave along the Heritage Trail remembers the discovery of Lead at the Moffett and Sergeant shaft.

Dr. Stebbins extended the invitation to the public to contribute to photos, memories and ideas for future storyboards to be placed in the next five years. Contact Patrick Tuttle if you can assist.

Follow our page and watch for our series of sesquicentennial stories leading up to Joplin celebrating 150 years in 2023 on Joplin News First at KOAM News Now.

Sinkhole forms in Joplin’s Landreth Park

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JOPLIN, Mo. — A sinkhole opens in Landreth Park in Joplin, Missouri.

Shortly after 1 p.m. Thursday afternoon Joplin Police and Joplin Public Works were notified of a sinkhole forming in the northwest corner of Landreth Park.

Joplin Police responded and secured the area. They tell us on scene the hole appears to be about 25 feet deep at this time. Water is in the bottom of the hole.  It is about 8-10 feet across.

About 2:15 p.m. Joplin Public Works arrived and fenced the area to keep the public back from edges as the hole could continue to grow.

Even while the Joplin Public Works crew were preparing to put up the temporary fence you could hear pieces of the sinkhole wall splashing down to the water below.

City officials are working on a plan now. They ask you avoid the area. It is now secured behind a fence for the public safety.

This is a developing news story. Stay with KOAM NEWS NOW as we continue to learn more.

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Out of the darkness walk

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JOPLIN, Mo. — Hundreds spent Saturday afternoon walking to raise awareness about suicide.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention held its 4th annual Joplin Out of the Darkness Walk in Landreth Park Saturday afternoon.

There are more than 47,000 suicide deaths in the United States every year.

AFSP says suicide is the ninth leading cause of death in Missouri.

The foundation held a bead ceremony before the walk.

Participants could choose one of nine colors representing losing someone to suicide or struggling with mental health issues.

“Suicide is a public health issue. It’s everyone’s business and together we can fight suicide,” said Jacque Christmas, Joplin Out of the Darkness Walk Committee Chair.

“I would want them to know that there’s hope. Reach out to a family friend, a family member, a hospital. Call the 800-273-talk line or text 741-741,” said Phyllis Blackwelder, AFSP Missouri Area Director.

The Joplin chapter raised more than $8,000 to fund research, education and advocacy.

Family hosts Healthcare Heroes Day in Landreth Park

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A family is giving back to local Healthcare workers.

Sunday the Butler family and the Teach A Man to Fish Foundation hosted Healthcare Heroes Day at Landreth Park.

They invited Healthcare workers along with the Fire Department and Police Department employees.

“Myself and a bunch of my family work inside the hospital system. And we’ve just seen an overwhelming amount of people just getting tired and burned out from all the hours they put in fighting Covid and taking care of everyone elses families. So we just wanted to give them a day where they could focus on their own families and come out and have fun,” said Chris Butler, Healthcare Heroes Day Organizer.

They had free live music, food trucks, a climbing wall and inflatables for kids.