KC Parks News

Kansas City Parks and Boulevards Historic District Listed in the National Register of Historic Places

“The Kansas City Parks and Boulevards Historic District,” Kansas City, Jackson County, MO, has officially been listed in the National Register of Historic Places for its significance in Community Planning and Development and Landscape Architecture. The historic district (timeframe 1895-1965) comprises three parks including Kessler Park, Penn Valley Park, and The Parade, connected by a series of seven boulevards including Independence, Gladstone, Linwood, Armour, The Paseo, Benton Boulevard, and Broadway, as written in the National Register of Historic Places nomination. Download Original Historic District Map>>

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.

“Kansas City has a great, historic park system because the city has shown so much respect for it over time,” said Barbara Wyatt, ASLA of the National Park Service. “I extend my thanks to the city government for its stewardship, especially the Parks and Recreation Department and the Park Commission.”

As stated in the nomination, Kansas City’s parks and boulevard system is traced to the work of landscape architect George E. Kessler (1862-1923). The initial network of parks and boulevards designed and implemented for Kansas City established the nucleus and foundation for the entire system and the city as a whole as it planned for the future, while guiding the design of the entire circulatory system that shaped Kansas City. “The park system was integrated with one of the principal goals of the City Beautiful—the monumental and scenic restructuring of the center of the city.” “The Kansas City Parks and Boulevards Historic District” as an entity is a continuation of Kessler’s 1893 framework for Kansas City, a comprehensive network that guided and coordinated urban growth, thus its significance in Community Planning and Development. In Landscape Architecture, “The Kansas City Parks and Boulevards Historic District” as a whole is representative of the work of George Edward Kessler and later the prominent Kansas City landscape architecture firm of Hare & Hare, combining the natural and formal styles in park and boulevard design.

“The Kansas City Park and Boulevard System is not only one of the most important public open space networks in the country, but it is a pivotal work of the City Beautiful era where planning and landscape architecture came seamlessly together through the vision of George Kessler. The Cultural Landscape Foundation applauds the increased visibility and recognition of the value of this unrivaled landscape heritage that listing in the National Register of Historic Places affords,” said Charles A. Birnbaum, FASLA, FAAR, President + CEO, The Cultural Landscape Foundation.

Within “The Kansas City Parks and Boulevards Historic District” there are various parks and boulevards that are significant in other areas, as well. In transportation, “The Kansas City Parks and Boulevards Historic District” affords a connection to the overall boulevard system of roadways while providing the opportunity for a wide variety of activities such as sports, hiking, bicycling, and areas for picnics and community events, tied to the area of Entertainment/Recreation. In Architecture and Art, “The Kansas City Parks and Boulevards Historic District” features a variety of buildings, structures, fountains, memorials and sculpture, often the work of noted architectures, artists and engineers that enhance portions of the system.

The National Register points out that as Kansas City has unduly sprawled through the years and is now bisected with major Interstate systems, it is important to note that the parks and boulevards included in this nomination afford not only an opportunity to traverse the city by way of an interconnected system of “pleasure drives,” but also to experience a variety of architecture, sculpture and structures that, due to their overall design, material and unique expressions covering a wide range of styles, further enhance and contribute to this enduring landscape.

The process of getting listed in the National Register began in 2014 when Kansas City Parks and Recreation contracted with Cydney E. Millstein of Architectural & Historical Research, LLC and Paul J. Novick of Confluence to pursue the designation.

Chronology of Milestones
June 1, 2014:  First draft of the National Register Nomination submitted to the State Historic Preservation Officers (SHPO)

June 27, 2014:  Second draft of the National Register Nomination submitted to SHPO for comment

August 6, 2014: Nomination unanimously passed by the Landmarks Commission

August 15, 2014: Nomination presented to the Missouri Advisory Council on Historic Preservation in  Jefferson City; unanimously passed

September 30, 2014: Revised nomination sent to the National Park Service (NPS)

June 26, 2015: NPS received the subsequent revised nomination.

June 23, 2016: NPS receives final revised nomination.

August 9, 2016: The Kansas City Parks and Boulevards Historic District officially listed in the National  Register of Historic Places

Fifth Annual Sly’s Rock the Block Celebration Happening on Saturday

The fifth annual Sly’s Rock the Block celebration is set for Saturday, August 13 from 3 p.m.-7:30 p.m.  The event will offer a variety of entertainment and family-friendly activities to mark another year of successful summer programs.

“Our Club KC and Mayor’s Nights give young people a way to socialize, dance, play sports, explore art and technology and just have fun in a safe environment,” said Mayor James. “Those programs focus on our youth, but Saturday’s event is for the entire community; we hope to see youth and their families enjoying the live entertainment, great food and fun activities.”

Thousands are expected to attend the free event, coordinated with the Kansas City Parks and Recreation Department. The first 1,500 attendees will receive tickets for free hot dogs, chips and drinks. Several food trucks will also be on the premises offering various food items for sale.

Live entertainment will begin at approximately 3 p.m. featuring the Mary L. Kelly Dancers; Mr. Stinky Feet; Black Repertory Theatre; The Hearts of Darkness; The Buhs; and Thr3dcard.  Mayor Sly James and Parks and Recreation Director Mark McHenry will welcome guests and speak briefly at approximately 4:30 p.m. during the entertainment lineup.

The celebration will offer families a variety of fun activities throughout the afternoon including:  Arts Tech (caricatures, face painting, giant Jenga); Zoo Mobile; Discovery Center; Sister Act Face Painting; Imagination Playground; Stone Lion Puppets; video games; college basketball experience pop-a-shot; Girl Scouts (crafts); and several inflatables.   Participants will also have the opportunity to register to vote and visit with a number of community organizations, nonprofits and city departments including TMC Healthy Harvest Mobile Market, The Public Library and Science City.

“Nearly 7,000 youth and young adults participated in our Club KC and Mayor’s Nights programs this summer,” said Mayor James. “Through the years, we’ve added activities to appeal to the diverse interests of teens and the steady participation shows it is working well for our city.”

KC Parks Receives Environmental Achievement Awards

Two KC Parks projects were selected by the Kansas City Environmental Management Commission (EMC)  as award winners for the 2016 Environmental Achievement Awards.

2016 KCParks Winners:

Lakeside Nature Center

Loose Park

Lakeside Nature Center in Swope Park: Pollinator Patch

Laura Conyers Smith Rose Garden in Loose Park: Reduction of Chemical Use

Congratulations Judy Penner and Kimberly Hess!!!

Dippin’ Dogs Swim Parties: September 10 & 11, 2016

Celebrate the end of summer with your dog at both KC Parks Water Parks! (Only dogs are allowed in the pool)

Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation invites you and your best friend to our end-of-the-season dog swim parties.

THE SPRINGS ON SATURDAY, SEPT 10:
The Northland Animal Welfare Society  (NAWS)  and the KC Parks will partner for the first Dippin’ Dogs Swim Party at The Springs Aquatic Center on Saturday, September 10 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The Springs is located at 9400 N. Congress Avenue.

There will be three swim sessions based on dog size.  Small (under 40 lbs.) and senior dogs can swim from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Owners with large dogs (40 lbs. +) can choose from two sessions: 12- 2 p.m. or 2-4 p.m. Each large dog session is limited to 100 dogs.

Additionally, NAWS will offer microchipping for just $25 per dog from 1-4 p.m. Local vendors will showcase their goods and services, including veterinary services, pet grooming, pet sitting, natural and gourmet pet food and treats, and pet clothing, at the event. Companies interested in attending as a vendor can sign up on the website or contact Heidi Downer with KC Parks at 816-513-7527 or heidi.downer@kcmo.org.

THE BAY ON SUNDAY, Sept 11:
KC Parks is happy to partner with Wayside Waifs for the Dippin’ Dogs Swim Party at The Bay Water Park , 7101 Longview Rd. in south Kansas City, on Sunday, September 11 from Noon- 4 p.m.

There will be two swim sessions based on dog size.  Small (under 40 lbs.) and senior dogs can swim from Noon-2 p.m. A large dog (40 lbs. +) session will be held from 2-4 p.m. The large dog session is limited to 100 dogs.

The cost to swim at each party is $10 per dog with a limit of two dogs per person.  Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult.

Register in advanced and go to the front of the line!
September 10 @ The Springs>>
September 11@ The Bay>>

StoneLion goes abroad! Helping to make Kansas City truly America’s Creative Crossroads

Local based StoneLion Puppet Theatre, a 501© 3 non-profit, has recently been awarded Arts Envoy status by the State Department to travel to Suva, Fiji. The U.S. Embassy in Fiji has sponsored this program. Artistic Director Heather Nisbett-Loewenstein will lead a team of master puppeteers to travel to Fiji as the guests of The National University of Fiji, The Fiji Arts Council and The Hibiscus Festival. Loewenstein, Taylor Gass and Eva Hall will spend two weeks in August leading local school children and professional artists to build giant puppets and use art to convey environmental issues such as over fishing and the pollution of our oceans to the residents and tourists of the islands. These puppets will be used in the closing parade of the South Pacific’s largest art event, The Hibiscus Festival, August 20, 2016.  Additional master classes with Fijian dance and music companies will create a cultural exchange to influence StoneLion’s work back at home.

But that’s not all….Loewenstein will continue her travels this fall. September finds her in Lund, Sweden to lead classes on arts for the environment at The International School Grounds Alliance conference alongside environmental partner Shari Wilson from Project Central. These workshops are based on their collaborative work sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency Region Seven this last year. Wilson and Loewenstein traveled across the four state region teaching pre-service education majors and other college students the need to use art as a vehicle in the classroom.

StoneLion also recently was award a grant from the State Department to take a similar program into Universities and NGO’s in Vietnam and Laos through the Mekong Delta Initiative. This outreach will take place in February and March of 2017 with a side trip into Cambodia to work with the Giant Puppet Project of Siem Reap once again.

Loewenstein is the 2016 Lighton Prize winner from Kansas City Young Audiences for Teaching Artist of the Year.

All of this will be alongside StoneLion Puppet Theatre’s regular programming which in 2015 included 314 performances and workshops, four neighborhood art festivals and three giant puppet events/parades locally. StoneLion is a KC Parks Partner.

Art in the Park presents Backstrap Weaving Event

Residents are invited to a presentation of nationally known artist Neil Goss’ backstrap weaving on July 29 at noon at Ilus Davis Park across from City Hall at 11^th and Oak. This presentation coincides with Art in the Park, an outdoor exhibit of several art works, including Goss’s Hempen Support: Vines of Passion.

Backstrap weaving is a method of weaving used for more than 5,000 years by indigenous people in Central and South America, and the Philippines. In this method, parallel sticks hold the loom’s vertical base in place, with one end attached to a tree or post and the other wrapped around the back of the weaver’s body. Backstrap weaving is the method by which Goss created the work that is part of this year’s Art in the Park exhibit. The method is ever-popular, and people travel to Guatemala, Bolivia and Peru for vacation workshops.

Neil Goss holds two B.F.A. degrees from the University of Kansas, and concentrates his work on natural earth processes. His research and practices involves sustainable art processes such as natural dyeing, backstrap weaving, and foraging art supplies. Goss is an artist-in-residence at the Charlotte Street Foundation, and teaches in Lawrence, Kansas.

Art in the Park is an annual free outdoor gallery show and is open through the end of September. Live performances during the lunch hour are held on the last Friday of the month. Also on July 29, Hema Sharma and The Nritya School of Dance will perform Dances & Music of India.