KC Parks News

City Welcomes Thousands of Visitors Downtown for Big 12 Basketball, Fun Run and Planet Comicon

Here’s helpful information on downtown street closures, parking and safety.

The City of Kansas City, Mo., welcomes residents and visitors alike to a wide variety of exciting activities taking place downtown this week, including the Phillips 66 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Championships at the Sprint Center from March 12-15; the Big 12 5K Fun Run and Family Stroll in the Power and Light District on March 15; and Planet Comicon at the Convention Center from March 14-16.

The Big 12 Championships will draw thousands of fans and has an estimated $9 million local economic impact. As such, the following streets will be closed during this event.

• Grand Boulevard between 13th Street and Truman Road is closed now through Sunday, March 16 at 3 a.m.
• 14th Street between Walnut Street and Grand Boulevard is closed now through Sunday, March 16 at 3 a.m.
• Walnut Street between 13th and 14th Streets will close Tuesday, March 11 at 9 a.m. through Sunday, March 16 at midnight.
• 14th Street between Walnut Street and Main Street will close Thursday, March 13 at 3 a.m. through Friday, March 14 at 11 p.m.

Please observe caution and seek alternate routes during this period. For more information about the tournament, street closures and parking garage maps, visit www.VisitKC.com/Big12Basketball.

The Big 12 5K Fun Run and Family Stroll will close the following streets Saturday, March 15 from about 10:30-11:30 a.m.

• 13th Street between Grand Boulevard and Oak Street
• Oak Street between 13th and 18th streets
• 18th Street between Oak Street and Grand Boulevard
• Grand Boulevard between 13th and 17th Streets and between 18th Street and Pershing Road
• Pershing Road between Grand Boulevard and West Pennway Street
• West Pennway Street/Broadway Boulevard between Pershing Road and 20th Street
• 20th Street between Broadway Boulevard and Southwest Boulevard
• Southwest Boulevard between 20th Street and Wyandotte Street
• Wyandotte Street between Southwest Boulevard and 16th Street
• 16th Street between Wyandotte Street and Grand Boulevard

Please observe caution and seek alternate routes during this time.

Planet Comicon is expected to draw nearly 20,000 people and has an estimated local economic impact of $4 million. While no streets will be closed, Central Street between 14th and 15th streets will have one lane closed from March 13-16. More information on Planet Comicon can be found at planetcomicon.wordpress.com.

Municipal garages charge $10 for event parking. As these facilities fill and motorists seek parking alternatives, they should carefully read posted signs at commercial parking lots and make certain they understand the pricing and terms.

As with any event, items such as mobile devices, purses and sunglasses are a temptation for thieves and should not be visible in parked cars.

It’s Time for the Home and Flower, Lawn & Garden Show

The original Home Show, together with the Flower, Lawn and Garden Show, returns for its 66^th year, March 28-30, to Bartle Hall.  This Kansas City tradition is presented by the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City–in partnership with Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation–and showcases new trends and inspiration for homeowners to get a jump on spring home and garden projects.

This year’s show will include hundreds of exhibitors showcasing the latest in remodeling ideas, design inspiration presented by popular HGTV stars on the SPACES stage, a 700 sq. ft. custom-built home, premier landscaping spaces featuring hundreds of flowers, kid-friendly activities like the KC Bricklab LEGO® displays, and even a new Pub in the Park beer garden!

The HBA and KC Parks will also present a great line-up of programs on the SPACES stage including the StoneLion Puppet Theater, programs on container gardening, presentations by the Lakeside Nature Center, performances from local ethnic dance groups, and more.  “We’re lining up a wide variety of entertainment and educational presentations that reflect the true diversity and expertise within KC Parks,” said Mark L. McHenry, Parks and Recreation Director.

Notable Presenters:

Monica Pedersen, of Designed to Sell and Bang for your Buck fame, and author of Make It Beautiful, will be headlining the SPACES stage this year. She will share her expertise on design trends, adding value to a home, home staging for the real estate market, and inspiration for do-it-yourselfers to “Make it Beautiful” on any budget.

Cari Cucksey, also headlining the SPACES stage, is the host of HGTV’s Cash & Cari as an “antiques matchmaker” who gives dusty relics a new lease on life. In addition to hosting her show, Cari runs RePurpose Estate Services, operates the RePurpose Shop, and refurbishes just about anything she can get her hands on.

Show hours are Friday and Saturday (3/28-3/29) 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Sunday (3/30) 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Advance tickets are available at all Hen House Markets, the Home Builders Association (I-435 & Holmes), Ball’s Price Chopper in Lee’s Summit (50 Hwy & S-291 location only), and online at KCHomeShow.com.

Admission is $10 at the door, $8 in advance, and children 16 and under are free. 2-for-1 admission is available at the door with the donation of five canned food items or $5.00 for Harvesters.

For more information, visit KCHomeShow.com.

The Friends of Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center to Host 2014 Hall of Fame Induction

The Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center & Museum will induct three deceased pioneers and two living legends from the Greater Kansas City, MO area into our Hall of Fame, Sunday, March 9, 2014 at 3 p.m. in the afternoon. The three Pioneers (deceased) are Ms. Lucile Bluford, Senator Phil Curls, and Dr. Chauncey Moten.   The two Living Legends are Ms. Samella Gates and Rev. Dr. Wallace S. Hartsfield, Sr. (pictured L-R).  

The Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center & Museum’s Hall of Fame recognizes African American pioneers who have made significant contributions to the development of Kansas City and the state of Missouri.  Individuals that are inducted into the Hall of Fame must have made contributions that have been exceptional, courageous, and critical during their lifetime.  These pioneers represent all fields of human endeavor, including but not limited to religion, politics, law, education, community services, visual and performing arts, and private industry.

The mission of Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center & Museum is to commemorate and interpret the African American diaspora particularly in the State of Missouri, the City of Kansas City, Missouri and its surrounding areas through fostering educational and cultural programs regarding the past, present, and contemporary contributions of African Americans who served to shape the city and state’s history and culture.

This special event is sponsored by The Friends of Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center and Museum.  Admission is free, however guests are asked to RSVP by contacting, 816-513-0701.

Saturday Morning Race will Affect West Bottoms Traffic

The City of Kansas City, Mo., is notifying motorists that the Mardi Gras 5K race will affect traffic in the West Bottoms area on Saturday, March 1 from about 9:45-11:30 a.m.

The race will start at the intersection of 13th and Liberty streets, with road closures along the following route: north on Liberty Street; east on 12th Street; north on Santa Fe Street; northeast on Union Avenue; west on Forrester Road; east on Ninth Street; north on Hickory Street; east on Eighth Street; south on Santa Fe Street; west on Ninth Street; east on Forrester Road; south on Beardsley Road; west on 12th Street; south on Hickory Street; east on 13th Street; south on Mulberry Street; west on 13th Terrace; south on Hickory Street; west on 14th Street and north on Liberty Street to the finish line.

For more information on this race, visit http://mardigraskc.com/.

As a service to our residents, the City of Kansas City, Mo., 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.

Please observe caution and obey all posted detours and barricades.

Starlight Accepting Scholarship Applications: Deadline Extended

The Vincent Legacy Scholarships give 6^th, 7^th and 8^th graders the opportunity to receive professional training in the performing arts

DEADLINE EXTENDED UNTIL APRIL 1.  Starlight Theatre is now accepting scholarship applications through March 21 from ethnically diverse youth in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades who have a passionate interest and strong ability in the performing arts.  Starlight’s Vincent Legacy Scholarship will award two individuals funding of $2,500 for dance, voice and acting training.

Starlight and local community leaders Greg and Rebecca Reid created the Vincent Legacy Scholarship Fund in 2006 and have since awarded 19 scholarships. The Reids also provided an endowment fund for the scholarship “to provide youth who show performing arts promise the opportunity to further refine and improve their skills through professional instruction, but who otherwise might not be able to secure additional training.”

In addition to meeting ethnic and financial criteria, students must show a passion for the performing arts, maintain an academic achievement level equal to or greater than a “B” (3.0) grade level, attend school regularly with no unexcused absences, and demonstrate an interest in community service.

The Vincent Legacy Scholarship provides more than just financial assistance.  The winners also join a group of talented former winners as well as adult mentors who help guide and encourage the scholars as they advance in their performing arts training. Past recipients continue to stay in touch and mentor new recipients.

Applications for the Vincent Legacy Scholarship and a list of past recipients are available at www.kcstarlight.com.

ABOUT STARLIGHT THEATRE
Starlight Theatre, winner of the 2013 Venue Excellence Award from the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM), is the largest and oldest performing arts organization in Kansas City and the second largest outdoor producing theatre in the country. Opened as a theater in 1950 and as a not-for-profit organization in 1951, Starlight presents and produces Broadway musicals and concerts, offers extensive community outreach and educational programming including classes, scholarships and Starlight’s Blue Star Awards, one of the largest high school musical theatre award programs in the country.  Located on 16 acres in Swope Park, Starlight’s venue includes rehearsal halls, gift store, club area for dining, concessions, gardens, fountains and a 10-story, climate-controlled stage.  It is operated in partnership with KC Parks.

Starlight Taking Applications for Community Tickets

Theatre continues annual tradition of providing free tickets to local not-for-profit groups

Starlight Theatre is continuing its 64-year-old tradition of offering free nights of Broadway musicals to not-for-profit groups serving individuals who might otherwise miss out.  Since the theatre’s inaugural season in 1951, the Starlight Community Ticket Program has distributed 364 free tickets every night of every Broadway performance to select groups and the individuals they serve.

Applications for the Starlight Community Ticket Program are now being accepted for Starlight’s 2014 Broadway season. This year, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organizations operating in Kansas and Missouri may choose from five Broadway shows at Starlight – a total of 31 performance nights with more than 11,200 free tickets available. In 2013, 113 local not-for-profit organizations received free tickets through this program.

“The Starlight Community Ticket Program focuses on groups dedicated to enhancing the lives of underprivileged and at-risk youth, the medically dependent or disabled, and low-income older adults. We do, however, also try to give all new groups that apply at least some of the tickets they request provided that they meet our qualifications,” said Bob Potemski, Starlight House Manager and program administrator.

Starlight’s 2014 Broadway Season: The Wizard of Oz (June 10-June 15), We Will Rock You (June 17-22), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (July 8-13), The Sound of Music (July 25-31), and Blue Man Group (September 9-14).

Community Ticket applications and program details are available at kcstarlight.com  under “Education and Outreach” or by contacting Bob Potemski at community@kcstarlight.com or 816.997.1163. A completed application packet must be received no later than 5 p.m. March 21.

ABOUT STARLIGHT THEATRE
Starlight Theatre, winner of the 2013 Venue Excellence Award from the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM), is the largest and oldest performing arts organization in Kansas City and the second largest outdoor producing theatre in the country. Opened as a theater in 1950 and as a not-for-profit organization in 1951, Starlight presents and produces Broadway musicals and concerts, offers extensive community outreach and educational programming including classes, scholarships and Starlight’s Blue Star Awards, one of the largest high school musical theatre award programs in the country.

Located on 16 acres in Swope Park, Starlight’s venue includes rehearsal halls, gift store, club area for dining, concessions, gardens, fountains and a 10-story, climate-controlled stage.  Starlight is operated in partnrship with KC Parks. For more information, visit www.kcstarlight.com