A Brief History of Civic Engagement at Park University

Throughout its long history, Park University and its students, faculty and staff have made major civic contributions, in the Greater Kansas City area and beyond. Here are a few examples of Park's civic spirit:

• In the first half of the 20th Century, Park ran the Parkville Water Supply, generated electric power for Parkville, supplied steam to downtown Parkville, established a military unit for the Spanish American War, had a Company in World War I and hosted the V12 naval training unit on campus during World War II.
• President William Lindsay Young welcomed Nisei students to the campus during World War II.
• Park faculty established Synergy House (now Synergy Services, Inc.) in 1970, the only shelter for runaway and homeless youth in western Missouri. A Park faculty member serves currently on the organization's Board of Directors.
• Many staff and students were very active with the Parkville Volunteer Fire Company
• Park administrators provided office space during the flood of 1993. Parkville's Police Department and Municipal Court used the Meetin' House as temporary headquarters.
• In 2005, Park students raised funds to support tsunami relief efforts in South Asia.
• Five Park employees have served as president of the Greater Kansas City Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration.

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