{"id":16693,"date":"2026-03-24T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.printingcenterusa.com\/blog\/?p=16693"},"modified":"2026-03-11T13:42:24","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T19:42:24","slug":"how-to-create-a-community-recap-book-that-people-love","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.printingcenterusa.com\/blog\/how-to-create-a-community-recap-book-that-people-love\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Create a Community Recap Book That People Love"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

At PrintingCenterUSA, we love seeing print used to celebrate community milestones and preserve meaningful moments. For Mike Martin and the City of Basehor Parks and Recreation Department, their \u201cYear 1 in Review\u201d book<\/strong> did exactly that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What began as a simple idea to document a brand new parks program quickly became a way to honor a city\u2019s first year of events, programs, and community gatherings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thinking About Creating a Book for Your Organization or Community?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Printed books are a powerful way to document milestones, celebrate achievements, and share stories that matter<\/strong>. Whether you are showcasing a program, preserving a special event, or creating an annual report, a well designed book can turn a year\u2019s worth of memories into something people can hold and revisit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start with your story<\/strong>
Highlight the events, people, and moments that made the year special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use photos to capture energy<\/strong>
Images of real events help readers feel connected to the experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Organize by theme or season<\/strong>
Grouping events makes the story easier to follow and more engaging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Design for browsing<\/strong>
Large photos, clear captions, and simple layouts make books enjoyable to flip through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use print to create permanence<\/strong>
A printed book preserves memories in a way digital files often cannot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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About Mike Martin<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Mike Martin serves as the Parks and Recreation Coordinator for the City of Basehor, Kansas<\/strong>. In 2025, he helped launch the city\u2019s first full year of Parks and Recreation programming, creating opportunities for residents of all ages to gather, celebrate, and connect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From concerts and outdoor movies to festivals and art events, Mike\u2019s goal has been to build experiences that bring the community together while highlighting the city\u2019s growing public spaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the first year of programming came to a close, Mike wanted a way to capture the excitement and share the story of what the community had built together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Challenge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

2025 marked a major milestone for Basehor with the opening of several new attractions at the Civic Campus<\/strong>, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • An outdoor amphitheater<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • A splash pad<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • A sledding hill<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    With these new spaces came a full calendar of public events, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • Concerts on 3rd Thursdays<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Cinema Sundays<\/strong> outdoor movie nights<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • The citywide Basehor\u2019s Blooming Festival<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Art in the Park<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Senior Picnics<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • And many additional community activities<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      After such a successful first year, Mike wanted a way to document and celebrate the program\u2019s launch<\/strong>. The project needed to showcase the events, highlight the new facilities, and serve as a keepsake for city leaders and residents alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      He envisioned something that would not only commemorate the year but also help new community members understand what Basehor Parks and Recreation offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The Printing Solution<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      To bring the idea to life, Mike partnered with PrintingCenterUSA to produce a printed \u201cYear 1 in Review\u201d book<\/strong> that captured the highlights of the program\u2019s inaugural year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      \n

      Specs:<\/strong>
      Size<\/strong>\u00a08.5 x 11<\/strong>\u00a0(8.5<\/strong>\u00a0x\u00a011\u00a0<\/strong>Inch)
      Binding<\/strong>\u00a0Perfect Bind
      Pages<\/strong>\u00a060
      Cover Ink<\/strong>\u00a0(4\/4) Full Color Both Sides
      Inside Ink<\/strong>\u00a0(4\/4) Full Color Both Sides
      Cover Paper<\/strong>\u00a0100# Cardstock Gloss (9 pt.)
      Inside Paper<\/strong>\u00a0100# Paper Gloss (5 pt.)
      Cover Finish<\/strong>\u00a0(UV) High Gloss<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      The book serves as both a visual recap and a storytelling piece<\/strong>, filled with images and information from the events and programs that defined the department\u2019s first season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Book Print Specs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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      • Product:<\/strong> Perfect Bound Book<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Size:<\/strong> 8.5 x 11 inches<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Printing:<\/strong> Full color<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Use:<\/strong> Community display and city leadership distribution<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        The book format allowed the department to present their work in a polished, professional way while creating something residents could easily browse and enjoy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        The Impact<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        The finished books quickly became more than just a recap of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Mike shared:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n

        \u201c2025 marked the first year of the Basehor Parks and Recreation program for the City of Basehor in Kansas. With the opening of an amphitheater, splash pad, and sledding hill at Civic Campus, we were able to offer Concerts (3rd Thursdays), outdoor movies (Cinema Sundays), a city festival (Basehor\u2019s Blooming Festival), Art in the Park, Senior Picnics, and much more. The book we produced with PrintingCenterUSA was a way to commemorate the inaugural Parks and Recreation programming in a fun, memorable, and meaningful way. Our elected officials are so supportive of our programs, I wanted to give them something they could reflect on with pride. We also keep the books in our lobby so new community members can see the events and programming we offer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n