Washington Sq Park between Crown Center/Union Station

[Pork Chop]

My hope would be that the northern connection over the tracks will get built and be compelling enough to draw people through the park. Otherwise, as awesome I think it might be, I would be a little concerned about a lack of general activity--of course part of that depends too on the number of buildings/units that might get built.

From the article:

Also being studied is a possible pedestrian bridge that would cross the railroad tracks and link the top of the park’s new stovepipe shape to the Crossroads Arts District to the north.

Alternatives for providing pedestrian linkage to the north also are being studied, Stockman said. Those options, which may prove more practical, include “improving the pedestrian experience on the Main Street viaduct and/or the Grand Boulevard bridge that crosses the tracks," he said.

Yes, I saw that. Hence my comment that I hope it gets built and is compelling.

Sorry, read your comment too quickly.

[Eon Blue]

^^^
Any old railroad bridges we can wheel through DT again?

There are a couple over the Kaw in the WB that are unused!

[DaveKCMO]

love this plan, as well. such a great combination of efforts!

[FangKC]

I hope that they include in this park revamp planning for development on the vacant parcels north of the railroad tracks between Main and Grand, with the pedestrian bridge descending down to Walnut.

If a trade is done with park land, they might as well also include that small parcel north of 22nd Street between McGee and Grand (indicated in red). That park space really isn't useful, and it has enough room for a small apartment building, and perhaps even underground parking if it was excavated.

[DaveKCMO]

i'm told a ped bridge to walnut is in the mix. still very early though...

[aknowledgeableperson]

Guess, first to the Park Board then a vote of the citizens.

[dnweava]

It would be cool if they made Walnut a pedestrian only street from City market to that proposed bridge. A few parking garages would still need to use the street for access though.

[DaveKCMO]

It would be cool if they made Walnut a pedestrian only street from City market to that proposed bridge. A few parking garages would still need to use the street for access though.

since the two-way conversion and closure of the flyway @ 20th, walnut has essentially become that already. very little vehicle traffic outside of rush hour. maybe add some bumpouts to create more people space. more landscaping on the existing sidewalks to extend a linear park all the way through downtown (what grand was supposed to be).

[KCPowercat]

I can't grasp why this is such a great concept other than removing that park lot. Maybe I'm not getting the scale but it seems the park would be more turned into a private park for those apartments facing it????

[DaveKCMO]

my read is that "swap" implies what park space remains will be public, in exchange for building private structures on the flanks.

[pash]

.

[chingon]

The design sucks. Too suburban. Not tall enough. Cheap materials. Looks like a park at 119th and Bumfuck.

[zonk]

Can you "swap" parkland? Won't this require a public vote? Or is this another one of those 99-year lease deals?

[FangKC]

One can swap park land, or sell it, if it is approved by voters.

The electrical sub-station on 18th between Holmes and Cherry used to be a city park.

http://kchistory.org/cdm4/item_viewer.p ... OX=1&REC=2

[KCPowercat]

my read is that "swap" implies what park space remains will be public, in exchange for building private structures on the flanks.

Yeah but it seems it wouldn't feel public....but maybe it will be wider than I'm thinking it will be.

[KCMax]

I can't grasp why this is such a great concept other than removing that park lot. Maybe I'm not getting the scale but it seems the park would be more turned into a private park for those apartments facing it????

Even as a private park it would get more activity than it gets now, no?

[earthling]

Was also thinking this could lean towards a private park but better than what it is today. Still looks too conceptual, not really enough there to judge yet. And there doesn't seem to be any solid momentum towards a funded project unless I missed something.

[Pork Chop]

my read is that "swap" implies what park space remains will be public, in exchange for building private structures on the flanks.

Yeah but it seems it wouldn't feel public....but maybe it will be wider than I'm thinking it will be.

Difficult to tell, but here's a picture I took over the weekend from the railing that fronts OK Street. It's about in the middle of the railing and you can see Grand to the Right and Main to the left.

[KC_JAYHAWK]

That parking lot would have been perfect for a downtown baseball stadium.

[slimwhitman]

^ That was the best location for a boutique stadium.
Would have been a great location.

My graphic...with apartment buildings fronting Main near the Memorial and at the base of the Hill on Pershing.
This would connect all of the disconnects that make this area such a wasteland.

...you just blocked the grand view to Liberty Memorial...and back to Union Station. Yikes!