PITTSBURG, Kan. — Since its creation in 2023, the Neighborhood Advisory Council has been promoting community involvement and volunteerism throughout the city. Their first full year, 2024, was spent getting their feet under them, but in 2025, the NAC began to hit its stride.

The council is slated to give its annual update to the city commission in June, but some of the highlights include organizing neighborhood clean-up days during The Big Event in conjunction with Pittsburg State and a spring cleanup at the YMCA.

To facilitate neighborhood clean ups, the council purchased an enclosed trailer to store tools and equipment. That trailer is still in the process of being fitted out with NAC livery but is expected to hit the neighborhoods this fall. The lack of a trailer hasn’t stopped members of the council from coordinating, and even volunteering, cleaning efforts across the ‘burg.

The NAC championed extra signage around city parks to curb speeding, and it worked! Drivers in and around city parks have slowed down, thanks to the council’s efforts.

A few neighborhoods have embraced the NAC and what it can do, hosting neighborhood block parties and holiday parades, encouraging other neighborhoods to do the same. This year, the NAC is working with the city on a 4th of July parade — a city first.

The NAC is also working to keep Little Balkans Days going. A long-time local tradition, the Labor Day celebrations are no longer coordinated by a single committee but are still happening through the efforts of individual sponsors and vendors. With the 150th anniversary of the City of Pittsburg, this year’s Little Balkans Days are especially important.

The NAC is also dedicated to help those in need of assistance. According to Kim Froman, director of Community Development and Housing, she was approached by Codes Enforcement officer Kaci Preston about a particular case. Preston said she has no real alternative but to cite and fine the homeowner who cannot maintain the property through no fault of their own. Not wanting to do that, she asked NAC for help.

The group is now planning a work day to help that resident with some lawn care and maintenance. But Froman cautions that the NAC is not a lawn-care company anyone can call to mow their yard. This is a special circumstance as the homeowner is physically unable to maintain the property and needs assistance to avoid city fines.

The NAC is also commemorating one of its own. Founding member PJ Graham is being honored by the council with a new pinwheel tree to be planted in the southwest corner of Lakeside Park, an area she visited often. A celebration of life for PJ is this weekend.

The council is always on the lookout for new members. Currently there are positions open to represent the northwest and southwest quadrants of the city as well as anyone who wishes to volunteer as a Neighborhood Champion who represent their neighborhoods, identifying concerns and coordinating responses and celebrations through the NAC.

Anyone interested in helping build community bonds can contact Kim Froman at Pittsburg City Hall.

This reporting is made possible, in part, by the Support Local Journalism Project Fund. Learn more at: southeastkansas.org/Localnews