The City of Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation Board of Commissioners is offering opportunities for the Community to join in the Conversation on honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Mayor Quinton Lucas directed the KC Parks Board of Commissioners to gather public input on how to honor King’s legacy. So far, there have been hundreds of great ideas submitted in print and emails, but we would like to get some more public engagement on the topic with breakout sessions for participants. We are encouraged by the collective energy and attention put forth by our community, to ultimately create a more equitable & robust conversation towards unity in our beloved city.
KC Parks Board of Commissioners would like to get more public input at these following dates and times:
Public Hearings:
Thursday, February 25, 2021 at 6pm (virtually or in-person)
Northland Neighborhood Inc. 4420 NE Chouteau Trafficway, KCMO 64117
Topic: MLK Virtual Community Engagement Session-2/25
Monday, March 8, 2021at 6pm (virtually or in-person)
Southeast Community Center, 4201 East 63rd Street, KCMO 64138 person)
Topic: MLK Virtual Community Engagement Session – 3/8
For updates please check www.kcparks.org/resources/community-engagment/ Questions and comments should be directed to KCParksEngage@kcmo.org If you plan to participate in the Public Engagement Sessions, please RSVP by email to KC Parks Resident Engagement Coordinator, Ja’Nell Luckie JaNell.Luckie@KCMO.org and let her know if you want to participate and/or give public comment. Anyone is welcome to continue to offer their ideas by email to MLKTribute@kcmo.org or by mail to: Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners, c/o MLK Tribute, 4600 E. 63rd St., Kansas City, MO 64130
Today, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Greater Kansas City (SCLC-GKC), made a formal recommendation to the City of Kansas City, Missouri Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners to rename the major compilation of thoroughfares now known as Blue Parkway (starting at 55th Street), Swope Parkway and Volker Boulevard in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Last fall Mayor Lucas tasked the Parks Board of Commissioners with finding a way to honor Dr. King. The current pandemic put a halt to the department’s plans to engage residents in works, however it did not halt progress on this topic. Members of the KC Parks Board and staff have continued to meet with community groups like SCLC to continue to seek ways to honor Dr. King. Today, during public comment of KC Parks Board of Commissioners meeting, SCLC-GKC made the formal renaming recommendation. See letter>>
Under the City of Kansas City Charter, Article X next steps will be:
If the Board agrees upon a name, public notice of the recommended name will occur twice during a thirty (30) day period. Citizen comments and recommendations must be made in writing to the Director (4600 East 63rd St. Trfwy. KCMO 64130 or email KCParksEngage@kcmo.org and must be postmarked within the thirty (30) day public-notice period or provided in testimony before the Board during the same thirty (30) day period.
After the thirty (30) day public notice period, the Director may request the Board consider a resolution supporting the naming or renaming of the Parks Asset.