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. |
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