KANSAS CITY, KAN. ? Preservation of the historic Quindaro town ruins could be complete within a year.

The ruins are the remnants of a town that thrived from 1855 to 1862 as an abolitionist community that helped slaves find their freedom.

The 154-acre site, named to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002, may once have been home to 5,000 residents and 100 businesses.

The project received a $250,00 grant from Save America’s Treasures, a national preservation group, and members of the organization met Wednesday with city officials to review its status.

Work on the project requires approval from the National Park Service, said LaVert A. Murray, director of development for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kan. Approval is expected within 30 to 45 days, Murray said.

“We think we’re really close,” he said.

The first phase of construction includes a scenic overlook and trails with signs explaining the historical significance of the site, including the underground railroad that operated there.

Kansas City Kansas Community College and the Unified Government are supporting the project by providing in-kind services such as staff time and community volunteers.

The city hopes the site will be a tourist destination.

“Its historical value is just immeasurable in the stories of Wyandotte County, Kansas City and our community,” said Bridgette Jobe, tourism manager for the Convention and Visitors Bureau. “It needs to be preserved.”

National Park Service representatives toured the site on Tuesday.

“We’ve learned there is a great commitment to the history and legacy of the site,” said James Hill, Midwest regional coordinator of the Park Service’s National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.