Jackson County (Mo.)
Historical Society
Historical
Perspective
by David W.
Jackson
Park system took
vision, persistence
Residents of metropolitan Kansas City today
delight in pretty parks and beautiful boulevards. Knowing the winding road
our predecessors took to secure these resources might guarantee you value them
even more.
The seeds of Kansas City’s parks and
boulevards system originated in 1872, when J. W. Cook’s offer to sell Kansas
City 40-acres for a park—at a steep $2,000 per acre—was rejected. Cook stewed
until 1877 when city newspapers printed the first editorials calling for
parks.
Although the City Council passed on
Cook’s renewed offer, they did resolve in 1880 to grade and make the City’s
first park. Shelley Park was dedicated atop the old, “vacated” City Cemetery,
located in the original Town of Kansas between 6th Street to Independence
Avenue and Oak to Locust. Shelley Park (and the City Cemetery) lies beneath
the current downtown highway system.
William Rockhill
Nelson, founder of the Kansas City Star in1880, began advocating for more and
larger parks, as well as boulevards. Nelson “planted” letters to the editor,
reproduced articles from magazines and newspapers about other city’s parks,
had reporters interview visitors, and gave ink for
local figures to articulate in favor of the idea.
Keep in mind, most of Kansas City
was slowly maturing from its “Wild West” beginnings: streets were largely
unimproved; city finances in shambles; and, because public improvement bond
issues had not passed, there wasn’t even a water system. Any public
improvement beyond streets and basic needs faced formidable challenges.
After several attempts at charter
reform, Mayor Ben Holmes in 1892 appointed a new Parks Board with the power
to issue city bonds. Wealthy Kansas City newcomer, August Meyer, became the
board’s first president. Meyer and George E. Kessler, renowned landscape
architect,
collaborated to create the
board’s greatest and lasting achievement the following year, their 1893
Report, which was summarized and editorialized in the press.
Opponents believed that a park
system was expensive and superfluous. As a result, financial, legal, and
public obstacles needed resolution for the system to flourish, and Kansas
City attorney Delbert J. Haff, is credited with
providing legal counsel throughout this process.
The struggle over the parks became
complex, but The Star’s humor, agitation, resolutions, and less obvious forms
of persuasion on behalf of the plan, rekindled the public’s interest in
supporting the parks board and for completing the parks and boulevard system.
West Terrace Park, Penn Valley Park, and North Terrace Park were won only
after contentious debate over eminent domain and condemnation issues.
By 1920, not only had the original
1893 Plan been completed in essence; but, the system had expanded to 1992.25
acres of parks, 676 acres of parkways, and 89.4 miles of improved boulevards
and park drives.
Expansion and improvement of the system
inspired cities locally and across the country. Today, Independence enjoys
nearly 50 parks not to mention activity centers and recreational facilities
that the Independence Parks and Recreation Department offer.
Next time you’re enjoying green
spaces, recreational facilities, and scenic drives, think of those whose
foresight, tenacity, and creativity were behind your experience. And, thank
your local Parks Department personnel for continuing an admirable legacy.
LINKS:
http://www.ci.independence.mo.us/parksandrec/
http://www.kcmo.org/parks.nsf/web/home?opendocument
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