Kansas City, MO has a world class boulevard and parkway system designed by renowned landscape architect George Kessler. The system connects the city’s historic neighborhoods and major destinations, and is expanding into newer neighborhoods in the Northland. Next week three public meetings give you an opportunity to let city leaders know that boulevards and parkways can be even better places to walk and bike.
New bike lanes on Cleaver II Boulevard
Public Meetings for New Parkway and Boulevard Design Standards
Tuesday, January 27th, 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
MainCor, 3215 Main Street (at Linwood Boulevard)
Wednesday, January 28th, 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Northland Neighborhoods, Inc. – 4420 NE Chouteau Trafficway (at Vivion Road)
Tuesday, February 3rd – 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
KC Police South Patrol Station – 9701 Marion Park Drive
Can’t attend a public meeting? Email your comments denise.phillips@kcmo.org.
The Opportunity
Many of the boulevards are great places to bike. In fact, back in 1980 the Parks Department created a bikeways plan to make the boulevard system the backbone of Kansas City’s bike route network. While that plan never got very far, today there is renewed interest in utilizing this amazing public asset to expand transportation options. In recent years the Parks Department has added sharrows on Armour Boulevard, bike lanes on Cleaver II Boulevard, and multi-use trails alongside many Northland Parkways.
1980 KC Parks Bikeway Plan
The Parks Department is currently updating the design standards for parkways and boulevard, creating a great opportunity to modernize the 1980s bikeway plan. These standards guide decisions about road widths, number of lanes, medians, landscaping, and the placement of bike lanes and trails.
The new design standards are a very important tool to ensure boulevards and parkways are great places to walk and bike, from retrofitting historic boulevards in the urban core to new parkways in the Northland and Southtown.
New Chouteau Parkway with bike lanes and trail