KCRag Forum

WoodDraw wrote: ↑Sat Dec 24, 2022 5:51 pm Truman park is the only good name so far.

I actually agree this is the best name idea I've heard for it as well.

I also think moderne hit the nail on the head with the idea that we need to brand this place. I like calling it a 'mall'. It differentiates it. When a visitor comes to the city they and they see 50 parks, the one that's called "Truman Mall" is gonna stand out more than just 'park'. I think it could enable the cap to become known outside if KC too if the area is successful and we give it a 'Mall' name or something like that.

Homeless mecca

Sounds like enough to finish a final design.

The people pulling the strings will probably copy whatever Dallas is doing -- name, programming, etc.

Thus, it will be named after its biggest private benefactor.

Kansas City is full of creative people. I'd hate to see the city just copy Dallas or anyplace else.

Another possible person to honor in naming this park is composer John Kander, who was born in--and grew up in--Kansas City. He is a winner of three Tony awards, two Emmy awards, two grammy awards, a Kennedy Center honor for lifetime achievement as well as numerous other awards and nominations.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kander

As an aside, two other composers born in KC: Virgil Thompson, a not-too-well known "classical" composer, and Burt Bacharach.

FangKC wrote: ↑Mon Dec 26, 2022 3:17 am Another possible person to honor in naming this park is composer John Kander, who was born in--and grew up in--Kansas City. He is a winner of three Tony awards, two Emmy awards, two grammy awards, a Kennedy Center honor for lifetime achievement as well as numerous other awards and nominations.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kander

He wrote New York, New York! That's one of my favorite Scorsese films, pretty bad ass he's from KC.

I think naming after private donors is likely.

Tisch Park for Loews donation or Cordish for the Cordish donation. Local money doesn’t seem to be interested in investing yet.

I don't think anything should be named for people not at least born in or have lived in Kansas City. Loews and Cordish are benefitting from the cap by increasing the value of their real estate properties. Federal, city and state taxpayers will most likely pay for the majority of the cost.

normalthings wrote: ↑Mon Dec 26, 2022 9:35 pm I think naming after private donors is likely.

Tisch Park for Loews donation or Cordish for the Cordish donation. Local money doesn’t seem to be interested in investing yet.

I'll take the field vs. it being named either of these.

FangKC wrote: ↑Mon Dec 26, 2022 9:55 pm I don't think anything should be named for people not at least born in or have lived in Kansas City. Loews and Cordish are benefitting from the cap by increasing the value of their real estate properties. Federal, city and state taxpayers will most likely pay for the majority of the cost.

Yeah. It's just sleazy to name the park after a donor who doesn't live here and is only donating because they know they're going to make a boat-load of profit.

The only good faith argument for Cordish Park/Mall is that they started this whole thing downtown when nobody else would in the dark ages. That, I do appreciate.

I'll mostly stay out of this non-fight because it's meaningless. There are two options: name it after someone that pays money or name it after someone historically important. Cordish is squarely in the former lol

So far I like Truman the best unless a corporation dumps some money on the park, quite literally.

I think politicians should be dead or let their legacies brew for a little bit at least.

Would this park be happening without the private donors who pledged early on, funded studies,pitched it, etc?

Having public space be branded is a bad idea

People started raising money and building the WWI Memorial before the war was even over. They knew it was honorable and right to recognize those who lost their lives and remember them. This foresight is why we have the National WWI Museum. I'd like to see us honor those lost again with some tribute to those who lost their lives or loved ones to the pandemic. I'd like to see us do something in this new park as a memorial, perhaps the stepped area next to the convention center could have a reflection emphasis with names or a memorial. Naming the park for this might be too much (First Responders Park?) but a place of remembrance would be nice. It'd sure be better than naming it after some self-serving politician or someone throwing their money around to buy a honor.

normalthings wrote: ↑Mon Dec 26, 2022 11:43 pm Would this park be happening without the private donors who pledged early on, funded studies,pitched it, etc?

Has anyone announced funding other than the government?

WoodDraw wrote: ↑Tue Dec 27, 2022 12:42 am

normalthings wrote: ↑Mon Dec 26, 2022 11:43 pm Would this park be happening without the private donors who pledged early on, funded studies,pitched it, etc?

Has anyone announced funding other than the government?

Loews verbally committed $5 million. I think the Merrimans & Cordish have also said they will donate. There are others who have indicated they would support but not publicly yet. I'm not sure why, maybe waiting to for the expected Federal money to be locked in?

Cratedigger wrote: ↑Tue Dec 27, 2022 12:50 am

WoodDraw wrote: ↑Tue Dec 27, 2022 12:42 am

normalthings wrote: ↑Mon Dec 26, 2022 11:43 pm Would this park be happening without the private donors who pledged early on, funded studies,pitched it, etc?

Has anyone announced funding other than the government?

Loews verbally committed $5 million. I think the Merrimans & Cordish have also said they will donate. There are others who have indicated they would support but not publicly yet. I'm not sure why, maybe waiting to for the expected Federal money to be locked in?

and they Committed before federal funding

I am not really tied to a donor name but its much the same as a politician's

What I'm saying is if it's corporate it should be a naming rights arrangement. I have no problem with corporations paying to promote their brands.

beautyfromashes wrote: ↑Tue Dec 27, 2022 12:37 am I'd like to see us do something in this new park as a memorial, perhaps the stepped area next to the convention center

This is really all I care about too. This park is such a no-brainer to put up a giant piece of art or fountain, etc. that I'm amazed it hasn't been mentioned yet.

Also would like to see many many trees at this park.