Crossroads needs greenspace

[KCPowercat]

There are more than enough empty surface lots....need some pocket parks or even one bigger park with an artistic fountain as a gathering space.

[earthling]

Pocket parks are great. Lots of ways to add green but not necessarily grass.

[grecobs]

Totally agree here -- one of the most crucial parts of a thriving urban space is a multi-use green space. Perhaps they can make a "KC Highline" when they close the loop?

[flyingember]

The idea is good, where do you put it that doesn't impact ownership rights over their land?

The proposed cap is a good spot but beyond that?

[DaveKCMO]

count me out. green the streets instead of carving out new spaces that require full maintenance.

[kboish]

just make grand, grand.

[flyingember]

As I think, I would much rather have 10x as many street trees than a few tiny parks.

Make an environment where anyone can exit their front door and find a nice place to sit.

[KCPowercat]

Thought came to me as I was walking around crossroads on Friday looking for a spot to enjoy lunch outside.

[TheBigChuckbowski]

But, that can tie into more green in the streets. Have a wide enough side walk for benches, trees, bike racks, etc and there's plenty of spots to eat lunch.

[KCPowercat]

that's fine...I'm not demanding anything, just an idea for discussion.

Additional thoughts on an actual greenspace is performance space for artists vs. just an empty parking lot.

[pash]

.

[flyingember]

that's fine...I'm not demanding anything, just an idea for discussion.

Additional thoughts on an actual greenspace is performance space for artists vs. just an empty parking lot.

The idea of green space is 100% valid. How to do it best is the question

I like the idea of performance space, but I also believe that private property rights matter more and no one should be forced to.

I do think incentives should be paired with tougher standards. There's nothing wrong with city incentives coming with parking maximums, mandatory shared parking deals and the like so we don't have empty parking lots.

And an option putting in shared green space as an option for receiving incentives is a decent idea. I could see gaining a small parklet as a valuable tradeoff given the clear long term value of them.

[KCPowercat]

Nobody is suggesting to take land from anybody.

[earthling]

Sidewalk pocket parks. Make it happen KC. Get KC Art Institute involved.

[TheBigChuckbowski]

Am I the only one that thinks non-parking protected parklets are stupid? Who wants to sit a couple feet from traffic that's whizzing by?

[earthling]

Hopefully you are the only one. These are typically used on low traffic, low speed streets - all over the world. Cars could just as easily crash into a sidewalk full of walking people. And some do have better barriers than others or have parked cars between pocket park and street. Look for ways to make it work than calling it 'stupid'. It's this kind of attitude that sometimes keeps KC from progressing pedestrian-scale urbanity. But wouldn't be surprised if KC finds a way to knock it down with most of leaders being suburban/car minded, not understanding sense of urban pedestrian scale and typically thinking in terms of cars/parking as higher priority.

[grovester]

I agree with Chuck, these don't work by speeding streets. The Minskys on SW Blvd is an extreme example. I would never sit outside there.

There are plenty of spaces downtown that would work, but still too many speedways through town. They need to calm the streets first.

[earthling]

And lower speed streets are typically where they are used, can always reinforce to appropriate degree factoring location. Calling it stupid and shutting down the idea entirely is just Negative Nancy.

[flyingember]

Nobody is suggesting to take land from anybody.

"just an empty parking lot" is an owners empty parking lot.

it's implying their rights to use the lot as they will is unimportant enough that we should be talking about alternatives.

[earthling]

Find ways to make it work instead of shutting down ideas. Add appropriate level of barriers depending on street situation, etc. If they have been problems in other cities they wouldn't be expanding. There are plenty streets in downtown KC that this can work, in every district.









Vancouver adding parklets all over city. If it were a problem they'd be decreasing them.


Minneapolis OK with them. Gasp, a car might plunge right into them. Fools.


Portland has many, what are they thinking?


WTF Richmond, VA, that Jeep could easily back into you...


Many more here...
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