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Platte County ranks in the top 100 US counties for quality of life, according to a study by the American City Business Journals Inc.
That puts Platte County second only to Johnson County, Kan. in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Johnson County ranked seventh. Quality of life is a hard concept to pin down, Platte County Presiding Commissioner Betty Knight said after hearing about the county's ranking.
"When we were elected commissioners, we wanted to do strategic planning. We wanted to ask people what they wanted to address in Platte County," she said.
In 1996 and 1997, the county commissioners distributed questionnaires in the mail, at local meetings and events and at area libraries. Each questionnaire had a card attached so residents could voice their concerns and ideas.
"We felt like we knew what we needed to address - roads and parks - but quality of life was something we heard a lot about," Knight said. "We got a lot of responses. People wanted to keep the good parts (about the county) yet increase what they call quality of life. A lot of people wanted to make sure we grew in a good way.
"We heard a lot about parks, about needing to preserve areas before building overtook that area. That's one of reasons we proceeded to implement a park plan, put a tax on the ballot, look at trails, walking trails, Metro Green, the Northland Trails system and community centers. We've tried to address those issues and are working on roads as we speak," Knight said. "For a lot of people, whether (they are driving on) a good road is important; (others) find it frustrated sitting in heavy traffic on Barry Road or having to drive around or avoid an unsafe bridge. A lot of things go into quality of life."
Roads and parks were top priorities for Platte County citizens in 1997 and parks and recreation continued to be important in a select telephone survey in late 1999, according to the county.
Parks in the Northland links
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The county has made steady progress in both roads and parks, according to the county. The half-cent sales tax passed in 2000 has allowed the county to acquire several hundred acres of land dedicated to parks including Platte Purchase Park, Platte Ridge Park, and Green Hills Wildlife Preserve. Community centers are also under construction in Parkville and Platte City. The county has also added trails linked to the Northland Trails system.
"Over the years, it has changed," Knight, who has been a Platte City resident since 1977, said. "Not only Platte City, but also down around Barry Road. There are more places to shop, more options." Knight and her husband raised their two daughters in Platte City.
"We do like it here. We came here because of a job transfer for my husband," she said. "When he switched professions we stayed. We both were from small towns in central Mo. We had a two-year-old daughter plus another daughter. We wanted a smaller school district. Platte City is also close yet not too close to city amenities. It seemed like a good place to raise a family."
Platte County's public schools continue to be a draw for new residents, Knight said.
"We are the only county in the state where all four school districts are rated with distinction," she said.
Parkville's new city manager, Joe Turner, has returned to Platte County after a 14-year absence.
"I loved living here for seven years," Turner said. "It's probably the prettiest area in the KC area with its trees and rolling hills. When I saw the position (of city manager) advertised, I decided I was going to apply."
Growth is inevitable, according to Knight.
"We love the trees and rolling hills but we don't have a lot to do about that," she said. "What we can do is have builders include a park or a trail. It helps them sell their subdivisions or homes.
©Sun-News of the Northland 2004