J
udy Wright isn’t sure where this quotation came from, but she and others involved with the “Re-Invent Lawrence” initiative use is as their by-word. Judy, a board member of Douglas County Senior Services, spoke about the local effort to attract retirees to Lawrence and asked club members to serve as ambassadors of the message.
About three and a half years ago, the City of Lawrence and Douglas County established a task force to study what attracts retirees to Lawrence. The hope was that by understanding the motivations of those who have come here to retire, others might be encouraged to follow. DCSS was asked to lead this economic development initiative aimed at three market groups: (1) Baby Boomers—to invite them to move back to the city where they attended a college or university; (2) adult children who live here—to ask them to encourage their parents to retire in Lawrence; and (3) local pre-retirees—to entice them to stay in the community.
The idea of retirement life in Lawrence is easy to sell. The community has a lifestyle rich with art, theater, music, sports, and life-long learning opportunities. Mass Street shopping, bike-friendly streets, parks and recreation options, libraries, and museums, and award-winning medical services are among the list of activities and amenities available here. The City’s proximity to Kansas City and its international airport is also a decided advantage.
Although it is difficult to track results of the DCSS efforts so far, Judy and Kay have been giving presentations in the community for about 14 months. The DCSS office has received inquiries from potential residents during those months. The organization has a distinguished list of sponsors and a robust website “Live Lawrence Life” They are placing ads in the KU Magazine and other alumni communications.
