Civic Affairs
Former Segregated School Opening Soon as Major Art Center
By Kevin Collison Kansas City’s newest cultural institution, the Zhou B. Art Center, is expected to open before the end of the year, repurposing a former segregated public school into a creative hub in the 18th and Vine District. “It’s important to Kansas City,” said Allan Gray, who is partnering with renowned Chicago artists ShanZuo…
South Loop Link Plan On Course for Lining Up $115M in Funding
(Editor’s note: the full City Council approved the $10 million in funding Thursday) By Kevin Collison The city is poised to contribute $10 million to the proposed South Loop Link project, an amount backers hope will leverage the total raised for the four-block park to more than $115 million by year’s end. A City Council…
Proposed Greenline Trail Price Tag $80M, Plan to Seek Federal Funding
(Editor’s note: This article originally was posted July 12, 2022) By Kevin Collison The proposed Greenline recreational trail loop around downtown now has an estimated $80 million price tag, according to backers who plan to eventually seek federal funding for the project. The Greenline was initially pitched almost three years ago by developer Vince Bryant,…
Omaha Postcard: Big Downtown Park Overhaul Shows How to Attract People
(Editor’s note: This article originally was posted Sept. 21, 2022) By Kevin Collison We have one restless, striving neighbor to our north. In July, Omaha finished the first phase of a $325 million overhaul of its downtown and riverfront parks, and what’s occurring 200 miles upriver offers an important lesson for Kansas City. First a…
Study Looks at Reconnecting Berkley Riverfront to Columbus Park
By Kevin Collison After being neglected for much of the 20th Century, the downtown riverfront is becoming a new community and now is looking for better ways to connect with nearby neighborhoods, including Columbus Park. A Connectivity Study is underway with the goal of identifying ways to overcome obstacles posed by the busy rail corridor…