OFFICIAL: Penn Valley Park (Ideas+redeveloment)

[Highlander]

Most interesting idea I heard at the meeting was to raise the dam for the pond to flood the Broadway road through the park making the pond much bigger. Seems a bit drastic, but a large lake in that area would bring paddle boards and canoes and peddle boats, perhaps a lake beach.

Not sure there is enough relief on the west side along Penn Drive to do this but you could simply destroy the dam at the current location and rebuild a larger version upstream a few hundred meters where there is probably enough relief to make a wider and larger lake.

[moderne]

Need a water source large enough to support a larger pond. I have never looked into the south end of the gully to see if there is a strong perennial spring there. Old maps show a "Silver Spring."

[beautyfromashes]

Not sure there is enough relief on the west side along Penn Drive to do this but you could simply destroy the dam at the current location and rebuild a larger version upstream a few hundred meters where there is probably enough relief to make a wider and larger lake.

Yes, would have to be about even where the scout is now going east. Would be a nice way to connect the two sides of the park allowing a walking path (with a terrific view) on top of a new taller dam. But, it's a huge pipe dream.

[rxlexi]

Enlarging the lake for paddle boats and boards is an awesome idea. Even just flooding the central valley between Penn Drive and Broadway could create a significant attraction. Combined with elimination of the I35 on ramps at the south end, this is the kind of thinking the park needs. It really could be special.

[AlbertHammond]

The park is just inaccessible, surrounded by pedestrian hostile streets on practically every side. Once inside it is chopped up by further unsafe streets.

Amen! This park will never be a successful city amenity until the perimeter hostility is tamed and the internal car sewer is removed.

[Anthony_Hugo98]

Starting meeting with the folks from UrbanLabKC recently, and boy do they have some fantastic ideas about the city! In reference to the recent release of the 50% renderings, one of the members put together a revised plan for what the bike lane going through the Penn drive/30th St roundabout should look like. The first image shows the plan released at the open house last week, and the bottom two are revised plans by UrbanLab. Their work, or at least the individual who put these graphics together, also includes the video of the streetcar map that was posted to Reddit a few months ago, with the current line extending out, then the original lines extending out, showing what used to exist. Amazing work by this crew for sure!

The group also posts about urbanism in KC with graphics and write ups pretty regularly on Instagram, so check that out for sure! Link and images below:
https://instagram.com/urbanlab_kc?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

[Cratedigger]

Follow them on instagram. Great account

[Cratedigger]

This article from City Scene KC about the Gene Lehey Park in Omaha has been bouncing around my head recently. Penn Valley needs to be activated and it doesn't seem the plans detailed in the open house go far enough in that direction

https://cityscenekc.com/omaha-postcard- ... ct-people/

[TheBigChuckbowski]

I certainly see criticism warranted with this plan (especially the hawk signal) but this is a narrowly scoped trail plan for half the park. Why is it getting treated in this thread as if this one project should solve every problem with PVP?

[Anthony_Hugo98]

I certainly see criticism warranted with this plan (especially the hawk signal) but this is a narrowly scoped trail plan for half the park. Why is it getting treated in this thread as if this one project should solve every problem with PVP?

Because we’re all ridiculous. Given that bike lane 100% warrants criticism, because that design will get people killed

[Cratedigger]

I certainly see criticism warranted with this plan (especially the hawk signal) but this is a narrowly scoped trail plan for half the park. Why is it getting treated in this thread as if this one project should solve every problem with PVP?

That's fair. I'm just impatient.

The plan is a step in the right direction (minus the bike lane, which I have heard they are considering changing prior to the plan being finalized). Just want to continue pushing and discussing ideas that would ensure Penn Valley Park reaches its potential

[DaveKCMO]

I wasn't able to make it. Are they attempting to solve the bike/ped gap between the park and the Crossroads (perhaps using Summit)?

[moderne]

March 28 at the Just Off Broadway will be the 3rd and final meeting about the redesign of the western portion of the park.

[smh]

March 28 at the Just Off Broadway will be the 3rd and final meeting about the redesign of the western portion of the park.

Are there any materials online about this project?

[moderne]

Penn Valley Park Conservancy has a facebook page. Notice further back some posters talking about altering/enlarging the lake. The lake was drained and rebuilt 12 years ago, so no use revisiting that. The lake is officially called Washington Lake and the tiny spring that feeds it could not supply a larger lake.

[missingkc]

Given it's place at a low point in the terrain from three directions, the lake shouldn't be dependant upon a small spring for it's water. Just a thought.

[moderne]

Where else a water supply? Street and storm water run off would be polluted and city drinking water expensive.

[DaveKCMO]

March 28 at the Just Off Broadway will be the 3rd and final meeting about the redesign of the western portion of the park.

[missingkc]

Yes, the lake would, and undoubtedly does, receive polluted runoff. Not saying it's nice, just saying the lake isn't solely dependent on a small spring for its water supply. So, a larger lake might not be impossible.

[moderne]

What's the large excavation on the hill just north below The Scout?