Twenty years ago, Steve Lopes had an adjective he commonly used to describe the mood of Lawrence neighborhood associations: crabby.

“The neighborhoods were a lot less powerful than they are now,” Lopes said. “They would come out for a single issue, and then they would just go away.”

But then on Jan. 29, 1987 – Kansas Day – things began to change for Lawrence neighborhood groups. That’s the day Lopes and other organizers credit as the beginning of the Lawrence Association of Neighborhoods.

Now, Lopes thinks there’s a much better adjective to describe Lawrence’s approximately 35 neighborhood associations: organized.

“I tell people we’ve gone from crazy to credible,” said Lopes, who served as the association’s first president.

The organization will be celebrating it all as part of a 20th anniversary party from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday at the Lawrence Visitor Center, 402 N. Second St. The event is open to the public.

Active participants

It’s common today to find at least one representative of the association – or LAN, as it is known – at every City Commission meeting. Members spend a good deal of time reading everything from stormwater reports to traffic projections, so they can make comments to commissioners about developments that may affect their neighborhoods in terms of noise, parking or in other ways.

“LAN is one of Lawrence’s most active groups that believes protecting the quality of life in Lawrence demands active participation,” said Gwen Klingenberg, the association’s president.

Price Banks, a Lawrence development attorney and a former Lawrence planning director, said the group’s frequent participation has helped it grow into one of the city’s more powerful community organizations.

“I think they have had tremendous influence in this community,” Banks said.

Several members of the organization have gone on to serve on the City Commission or beyond. David Dunfield and state Sen. Marci Francisco are examples of past association presidents who have served as Lawrence mayor.

Raising questions

Some members admit, though, that the group’s frequent questioning of projects has made it less than universally loved.

“We’re viewed by some as anti-growth, but we’re really not,” said David Geyer, who was the association’s president in the mid-1990s. “I think it is because we raise questions about whether this is what the city needs. When you raise questions like that, you are questioning other people’s ideas.”

Lopes, who is not particularly active in the association anymore, said he always took the anti-growth label as a badge of honor.

“If someone is not angry at you, you’re not doing your job,” Lopes said. “We’re not anti-anything. We are pro-neighborhood, pro-better living in Lawrence. I think the quality of living in Lawrence owes a lot to the 20 years of LAN.

“That’s unapologetic. We step on toes, that’s right. Now, developers have to think twice because they know someone will be asking the tough questions at the Planning Commission or the City Commission or wherever. That’s our job.”

Eyes and ears

Banks has been on the losing side of some disagreements with the association, but he considers himself a fan of the organization.

“Their impact has been both good and bad, but I would say primarily good,” Banks said. “It is an opportunity for folks to come together and collectively bargain with the power structure. I don’t agree with all the directions they have gone, but I’m glad that they’re active.”

The group plays a pretty specific role for elected leaders, Mayor Mike Amyx said.

“There probably have been times where we’ve agreed and probably disagreed on how things have been done,” Amyx said. “But the way I really look at LAN is that (they) are our eyes and ears in the neighborhood to recognize issues that we may not recognize otherwise. That’s an important job.”

Lopes thinks the group does help provide needed information to commissioners, but said its benefit had reached even wider.

“Democracy has improved because more people know what decisions are coming up and know how to get involved,” Lopes said. “It’s just a real player in the community.”