KC Parks will celebrate National Trails Day on Saturday, June 7 with a dedication of the Line Creek Trail in the Northland. The Line Creek Trail has been jointly funded by the two cities as well as Platte County.
Kansas City and Platte County officials will be on hand to cut the ribbon at the northeast corner of Line Creek Parkway and Barry Road at 10 a.m. The ribbon cutting will be followed by a trail walk, information and fun giveaways. This celebration focuses on the new connection between the 8-mile-long Line Creek Trail and the 3-mile-long Missouri Route 152 Trail.
National Trails Day is an annual event that encourages the public to discover and celebrate trails by participating in outdoor activities, including health and wellness exhibitions and trail work projects. Trails provide access to the natural world for recreation, inspiration and education.
The BayRider Opens Saturday at south KC Water Park.
This weekend, Kansas City becomes the second city in Missouri to operate a surfing simulator in a municipal water park. The BayRider opens to the public on Saturday, May 24 at The Bay Water Park, 7101 Longview Road, in south Kansas City.
“We are thrilled to add this unique amenity to the recreational opportunities already offered within our system,” said Mark L. McHenry, director of Kansas City Parks and Recreation. “It is a welcome addition that is creating a lot of excitement.”
The BayRider generates a thin sheet of water that flows over a stationary wave form. The resulting “wave-like” shape permits ride to slide down, carve a turn, and ride the wave surface emulating the maneuvers of surfing or other board sports.
The BayRider Single Specs
Size: 22′ wide x 49′ long
Capacity: 160-240 riders per hour
Weight: 350,000 lbs
Tank Volume: 40,000 gallons
The City of Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation has launched a new website to better serve Kansas City’s road racing community. KCRaceDay.org is a one-stop shop for organizers and residents to locate details about events taking place on the streets of Kansas City, Missouri.
Races, runs, bike rides, and walks are a common way for charities to raise money and bring visitors to Kansas City. However, as the number of road-based events increase, so too does the impact on residents and businesses located along the routes.
In 2013, the City hired a dedicated race manager to provide a single point of contact to oversee permitting and other aspects of races, walks, and rides taking place on City streets. KCRaceDay.org was created to further facilitate communication, awareness, and coordination of these events to the general public.
“We are pleased to offer this resource to improve the race day experience for residents, businesses, organizers and participants,” said Mark L. McHenry, Kansasa City Parks and Recreation director. “It has always been our goal to make Kansas City a viable location for runs, races and rides. KCRaceDay.org assists us in reaching that goal.”
“Race organizers can use the new site to apply for a permit and better understand event policies and guidelines,” adds Kansas City Race Manager Jenny Chronister. “The site will expedite the application process and afford groups more time to plan great events.”
For Kansas City residents and businesses, the new website provides detailed information on each road-based event. The site includes a calendar, FAQs, route maps, and registration to receive information for permitted events that occur in a specific neighborhood or business district.
Members of the UMKC Women’s Volleyball team opened the new sand volleyball court in Brookside Park, Brookside Blvd & E. 56th, with the official first serve on May 13 as KC Parks hosted a beach party celebrating the new court.
COURT DETAILS:
Court was constructed following a PIAC request
$75,000 for construction
Court features nets, 12” deep sand, with under drains, concrete curbs, new sidewalk, limestone slab seating, a picnic table, and a 4’ fence to stop loose balls from rolling down the hill
5,060 cubic feet of sand
1,500 square feet of concrete sidewalk
285 linear feet of concrete curb
Erosion control blanket was used on the hillside to help with the re-establishment of the grass and to prevent erosion.
As a service to our residents, the City of Kansas City, Missouri, sends occasional notices about temporary road closures due to outdoor races to help residents better plan their weekends and avoid inconvenient road closures or delays. This weekend, three races will affect traffic throughout Kansas City. Please note, police are prepared to allow motorists to cross the routes when they deem it safe for the participants.
Please observe caution and obey all posted detours, barricades and no parking signs.
The Greater Kansas City Great Strides for Cystic Fibrosis Walk takes place Saturday, May 10 from about 10:30 a.m. to noon. While the race takes place on sidewalks and no streets will be closed, police will monitor traffic and may block an intersection if the walkers’ safety becomes a concern.
The walk takes place within these boundaries: East 45th Street to the north; Volker Boulevard to the south; Brookside Boulevard to the west; and Rockhill Road to the east. For more information, visit www.cff.org/great_strides/.
The Run Mom Run takes place Saturday, May 10 from about 9-10:30 a.m. and will temporarily close the following streets:
Main Street, between 51st and 58th streets
58th Street, between Main and Wyandotte streets
Wyandotte Street, between West 58th Street and Huntington Road
Huntington Road, between Wyandotte and Summit streets
Summit Street, from Huntington Road, curving into West 52nd Street to West 51st Street
West 51st Street, between West 52nd and Main streets
The City of Kansas City, Missouri, Parks and Recreation Department and the Kansas City Downtown Council’s Greenspace Committee plan to revitalize downtown’s Washington Square Park. They invite residents to share ideas for improvements through KC Momentum, the City’s virtual town hall. Join the conversation at www.kcmomentum.com.
Located at Pershing Road and Grand Boulevard, the five-acre Washington Square Park boasts pathways, a plaza and seating areas surrounded by trees, grass and flowers. The park is well known for its iconic statue of George Washington on horseback and its new Missouri Korean War Veterans Memorial.
“Washington Square Park really is a hidden gem,” said Heather Runkel, Parks and Recreation project manager. “It gets a lot of use with races and special events, but on a day-to-day basis many people do not realize it is there due to its dense trees. The park is ideally located near Union Station, Liberty Memorial, Crown Center, art galleries, restaurants and lofts. It’s also close to the southern point of the new streetcar starter line, making it prime for revitalization. It could become a grand civic space.”
To maximize the park’s potential, the City encourages residents to share ideas on KC Momentum, an interactive website that acts as a virtual town hall. The City uses KC Momentum to receive public input to help make City decisions on a wide range of services and programs that impact the quality of life in Kansas City, Missouri.
“It’s important that we have active participation by as many residents as possible when working on City projects,” said Mark McHenry, director of Parks and Recreation. “The community, quality of life, strength and viability of our city cannot be successful without individual people to help us.”
KC Momentum is currently seeking public input on the following topics:
Features you think would attract more visitors to Washington Square Park
Your favorite park activities
Benefits you would like Washington Square Park to bring to our community
Your favorite places for leisure and recreation in our community
Parks/greenspaces locally, nationally or even internationally from which we can draw inspiration
Washington Square Park’s benefits to our community
Areas within Kansas City that need more access to open space
How residents enjoy Kansas City parks
To learn more about KC Momentum, or to join in the conversation online, visit www.kcmomentum.com.
KC Parks will celebrate National Trails Day on Saturday, June 7 with a dedication of the Line Creek Trail in the Northland. The Line Creek Trail has been jointly funded by the two cities as well as Platte County.
