June 30, 2020 . . . Today the Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners took bold and decisive action voting unanimously to remove the name J.C. Nichols from the fountain and parkway located within and adjacent to Mill Creek Park. This accomplishment serves as a catalyst for change and KC Parks remains determined to live our mission which includes social equity. For institutions to combat racial inequities they must first acknowledge their own past and focus on engaging the community on a path forward. KC Parks is uniquely positioned to use its assets, platform and resources to impact change for the good of our entire community.
KC Parks received more than 500 emails, comments, letters and calls from throughout the community, and is grateful so many residents chose to voice their opinions in a respectful and productive manner. Park Board Commissioner Chris Goode, who initiated the effort in a heartfelt memo to the Board in early June said, “Today my deep love for Kansas City grew. Today we have been afforded an opportunity to take a small step towards the conversation of healing. I’m excited for where this open door can lead to. As the heart of the nation we have real work ahead to ensure that this dialogue turns into education that leads to actual change. While I applaud every single person that spoke life into this moment including the Nichols family, I am more interested that each person that stood up for what’s right today will commit themselves to tangible change for the days, weeks and months to come.”
The Nichols Family, along with the Miller Nichols Charitable Foundation today added their support for the removing the J.C. Nichols name from both the fountain and the parkway. Read Miller Nichols Charitable Foundation Support Letter>>
“We have a great passion for the Kansas City spirit, and for the people in every corner of our community who bring it to life,” said Foundation President Kay Callison. “It is important to each of us that we publicly endorse the name change for the greater good of the City we love.”
KC Parks is honored and humbled by the broad support on this topic and looks forward to continuing to work towards a more equitable and inclusive community.
The five-member Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners are volunteers who are appointed by the Mayor .