Willow Springs Township Intensive Survey Report

From the Methodology: "Like most place, Willow Springs Township is more than a collection of its parts. It's not just a grouping of buildings - or even a series of farmsteads. It is a community that has changed little in the past 165 years. But it is also a cultural landscape that is facing development pressures, uncertainties in landowner succession, and disconnection with its own heritage. It is the goal of this study to explore what makes this place a community and identify ways to preserve its unique heritage and character. ...This report includes a detailed historical context, a summary of our findings, and our recommendations for preserving the character of Willow Spring Township." Conclusion: "Willow Springs Township is a rich Cultural Landscape shaped by the free-state movement. Although much of the built environment, demographics, and appearance have remained relatively intact for 165 years, this landscape is in danger of being lost. It is our finding that the preservation of this unique landscape cannot wait for a conventional preservation approach. Instead, we encourage Douglas County to pursue policies that protect these rural communities through protections for open spaces, toolkits for building owners, and funding for threatened buildings such as barns." Project funding is provided in part by a Historic Preservation Fund grant to the Kansas Historical Society administered by the State, Tribal, Local Plans and Grants division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior (grant number P18AF00077).

Willow Springs Township Intensive Survey Report

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