Jackson County
(Mo.) Historical Society
Portals to the Past by David W. Jackson
Renowned parks system faced early struggles
Kansas Citians today delight in pretty parks and beautiful boulevards—a model for communities across the country. 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. Today the highway system has replaced Shelley Park. William
Rockhill Nelson, founder of the Kansas
City Star in 1880, 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, and the creation of the Keep Kansas City Beautiful movement
continues today. The Kessler Society, a nonprofit parks and boulevard
advocacy organization, also perpetuates Kansas City’s most respected and
well-known landscape architect. “The George” is an award that the Kessler
Society and the Parks Board give to nominated residents each year in
recognition of their efforts to beautify their yards and neighborhoods. Next time you’re enjoying green
spaces and scenic drives, think of those whose foresight, tenacity, and
creativity allowed for your experience—Nelson, Meyer, Kessler, and Haff—plus
all those who serve on the Parks Board, and Kansas City Parks Department
employees who take pride in protecting and projecting a system of parks and
boulevards that make other cities green with envy. David W. Jackson is archivist for the nonprofit, membership supported Jackson County (Mo.) Historical Society's Archives and Research Library at 112 W Lexington Ave, Suite 103, Independence, MO 64050. The archives are available to the public weekdays by advance appointment. For more information, or to donate historical materials, visit www.jchs.org, call (816) 252-7454, or e-mail info@jchs.org. |
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