Press Releases

The City of Lee's Summit will celebrate the completion of the Chipman Road Improvements project with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Aug. 1 at 10 a.m. The event will be held on the east side of the pedestrian bridge on Chipman Road. The Chipman Road Improvements project, which began construction in July 2023, enhances the corridor that serves as a key transportation route for residents and businesses. The completed upgrades include the connection of Northwest Ashurst Drive to View High Drive, realignments of both Northwest Cedar Creek Lane and Northwest Edgewood Drive, and the replacement of a one-lane railroad tunnel with a new pedestrian bridge over Chipman Road that supports two-way traffic. The new bridge significantly improves safety and accessibility and connects the Rock Island Trail on both the north and south sides of Chipman Road. Other improvements include the...

The City of Lee’s Summit and Mayor Bill Baird are proud to name Michael VanBuskirk as the 2025 Citizen of the Year. VanBuskirk will be honored this September at the Truman Heartland Community Foundation’s Toast to Our Towns Gala for his more than three decades of service to the civic, educational and economic vitality of Lee’s Summit.

This July, Celebrate ‘Build Together, Play Together at Lee’s Summit Parks and Recreation Month-long celebration highlights the impact of parks and recreation   This July, join Lee’s Summit Parks and Recreation (LSPR) for Park and Recreation Month, as we celebrate how Lee’s Summit is stronger, more vibrant and more resilient because of parks and recreation. A variety of activities are planned for residents of all ages and abilities — including: Moonlight Yoga - Legacy Park Amphitheater on Friday, July 11 from 9-10 p.m. Family Fun Night – Summit Waves on Monday, July 14 from 8:30 – 10:30 p.m. Jamaican Jam (Free Event) - Legacy Park Amphitheater on Friday, July 18 from 7-10 p.m. Sunrise Yoga – Legacy Park Amphitheater on Sunday, July 20 from 6-7 a.m. Duck Derby – Summit Waves on Sunday, July 20 from...

LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo. (July 10, 2025) — The Lee's Summit Fire Department responded to a possible structure fire at the Quality Inn, located at 1020 SE Blue Parkway, at 1:01 p.m. An employee reported smoke in room 324, coming from a windowsill, prompting an evacuation of the hotel. Upon arrival, firefighters observed no visible flames outside the three-story, 63-room hotel, though the building’s alarms were sounding and guests were evacuating. Light smoke was present in room 324. Using a thermal imaging camera, firefighters located a smoldering fire in the wall next to the window, adjacent to the heating and cooling unit. They opened the wall around the window and extinguished the fire, which did not spread beyond that area. Firefighters searched the vicinity and found no additional hazards. The incident was under control by 1:34 p.m. The fire caused damage...

LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo. — Overnight, the Lee's Summit Fire Department responded to several fireworks-related fires. Crews were dispatched to a reported structure fire at 4:27 a.m. on July 5, 2025, in the 1100 block of SW Summit Hill Drive. A resident called 911 after being awakened by smoke alarms and discovering a fire burning on the outside of the house. Upon arrival, firefighters found flames near the garage door that had spread up the front of the two-story, single-family residence and were beginning to enter the attic through the roof's eave. The occupants were safe outside. Firefighters quickly knocked down the flames on the house's exterior while other crews entered to extinguish the fire spreading into the attic and garage. The incident was reported under control by 4:52 a.m. Damage was primarily confined to the exterior of the house, including...