Today, the KC Parks Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to rename a stretch of road along Brush Creek, that is now Blue Parkway, Swope Parkway, and Volker Boulevard, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Combined, they connect South Plaza to the East near the Brush Creek Community Center. The boulevard intersects with Troost Avenue, The Paseo, and Prospect Avenue. The Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Center, the Boys and Girls Club, and Martin Luther King Jr. Square Park are located along the route.
Two years ago, the city council voted to rename The Paseo in honor of the civil rights leader. Street signs went up in early 2019. By November, voters decided to restore The Paseo name. Then, Mayor Quinton Lucas directed the KC Parks Board of Commissioners to gather public input on how to honor Dr. King’s legacy. There have been hundreds of ideas submitted over the past year, MLK-Suggestions-from-Mail-and-EMail.pdf (kcparks.org) and several public meetings scheduled for residents to come out and work together to find creative solutions on how to appropriately honor Dr. King in Kansas City, MO.
Last summer, the KC Parks Board met with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Greater Kansas City and identified a stretch along Brush Creek that is now Blue Parkway, Swope Parkway, and Volker Boulevard. Combined, they connect South Plaza to the East near the Brush Creek Community Center. The boulevard would intersect with Troost Avenue, The Paseo, and Prospect Avenue. The Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Center, the Boys and Girls Club, and Martin Luther King Jr. Square Park would be along the route. The Board has passed two resolutions recommending accompanying name changes to portions of Blue Parkway not under the department’s jurisdiction and renaming Oak St. to honor William Volker. Both resolutions require City Council approval.
Public Engagement Sessions on renaming Oak St. to Volker St. are scheduled for May 10 and May 13. More>>