Seems to me the best plan would be mixed use and maintain tennis.DaveKCMO wrote: there are plenty of options that could add street life to cleaver, main, or nichols without selling off the tennis court land. a restaurant that serves the tennis courts (and the public) is one option -- or simply better transparency in the structure that is there today. an outdoor roller skating/ice skating rink like this temporary one next to the high line would also be an excellent (active) adaptation:
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that being said, we should sell off the land and develop it (respecting the plaza bowl, etc etc). there's a massive well-used park across the street and plenty of open space along brush creek in both directions.
Put a 2 or 3 story building and move tennis to the roof. If it was built at the street like the rest of the plaza would provide more usable space for the tennis center. Would have great views and there's plenty of examples of this even in KC http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/pr ... onId=29018
Don't sell off the land from parks, develop it for the city.
Done right the same building could include space for Ride KC and/or Visit KC to serve as a customer service space. Buy bus passes, help travelers in KC get around and the like. With the Plaza customer service space shutting down, another tourism location could be smart and being city owned it could be rent free. I also picture an inside playground so the area gains a 12 month parks facility for families. Zona Rosa has one that's popular. Doesn't take up much space relative to the use it would get.