KC Spirit Playbook: Our City’s Priorities and Vision for the FutureSpirit

May 4, 2021

This is your chance to help shape KC’s future — for green space, wildlands, natural re- sources, water quality, equity for our citizens and more.

The KC Spirit Playbook, a comprehensive plan for the next few decades of our city, is being developed now by our city staff. They want your feedback, so now is your chance to:

  • Influence the vision and priorities for city planning and development 
  • Share our concerns about what matters most.

DOWNLOAD OUR PDF PRIMER HERE

 

Why is it important for you to respond? 

Your voice is needed to help ensure the health of our city (green space, environmental issues, equity, etc.) stays at the forefront. These poll responses will help us hold our city officials accountable as they develop the plan.

Two ways you can help (in just under 5 minutes)!

1. TAKE THE 5 BIG QUESTIONS POLL

Click here to go to the poll now (or check out a sneak peek of the poll below).

Note: You’ll have to register first. It’s quick and easy, so don’t let that stop you!

SNEAK PEEK FOR POLL QUESTIONS & HELPFUL THOUGHT-STARTERS:

Question 1: I LOVE this one thing the most about Kansas City. 

Thought starters: think about what you want to protect in KC, such as:

  • Green space
  • Woodland areas
  • Trails and natural spaces
  • Public transportation, streetcars, walkability, etc.


Question 2: ONE thing I enjoy about another city I've visited is. 

Thought starters: think about what you hope to see in KC, such as:

  • Environmentally-friendly infrastructure
  • Clean waterways
  • No litter
  • Emphasis on green space, trails, etc.

 

Question 3: One thing that would IMPROVE our City the most. 

Thought starters: think about what you want to change in KC, such as:

  • A cleaner & safer city for our citizens
  • Creation of trails
  • Better water quality and trash clean-up
  • Protecting existing woodlands and green spaces, such as the Line Creek Forest, etc.
  • Extend streetcar lines and improved bus service 
  • More affordable housing options

 

Question 4: The one thing that CONCERNS me the most about Kansas City today is:

Thought starters: think about who is most negatively impacted by poor city planning and decisions, such as those living below the poverty line, neglected neighborhoods and under-served communities — or places in our city where waterways are polluted, land is degraded through development and the health and safety for our citizens is at risk.

 

Question 5: I would also like to tell you THIS about our City:

Thought starters: Explain how our city and the future citizens deserve a plan that doesn’t prioritize un-checked land development or policies that harm our natural resources and quality of life. Instead, our city officials need to listen to our citizens.

 

2. MAP CRITICAL POINTS IN OUR CITY

Click here to go to the map now (or check out some ideas below).

Note: You’ll have to register first. It’s quick and easy so don’t let that stop you!

DROP PINS ON A MAP:

Numbers matter here ... The more pins related to an issue, the more attention you’ll bring to it!

 

SOMETHING YOU LOVE

Drop a pin on:

  • Woodlands and forests that should be preserved KansasCity, such as the Line Creek Forest, or woodlands that have already been protected.
  • Downtown KC to share how you love streetcars and walk- able parts of downtown KC
  • Your favorite bike trails and bike-friendly streets
  • Walkable, pedestrian-friendly sections of the city, like City Market, Crossroads and Downtown

 

SOMETHING TO IMPROVE

Drop a pin on green space, forests and woodlands:

  • Expand green space to manage water run-off, improve air quality and protect animal habitats
  • Protect our old unprotected forested areas, like the Line Creek Forest and other important woodlands
  • Connect local parks to neighborhoods and green spaces through the development of trails
  • Use native plants when possible and plant trees

 

Drop a pin on polluted areas:

  • Reduce pollution and litter, especially around ourwaterways such as Brush Creek or along highways
  • Reduce light pollution and install streetlights that use less energy and reduce taxpayer costs

 

Drop a pin on downtown Kansas City:

  • Consider more sustainable and environmentally-friendly designs in our downtown development
  • Extend streetcar lines
  • Improve MAX Bus Rapid Transit service to areas that could benefit from enhances service
  • Housing options available where you can walk to work, shop and play

 

Drop a pin on traffic corridors & neighborhoods:

  • Large parts of Oak could be closed to car traffic and turned into a bicycle boulevard with local access for cars from one side of the block, and local access for bikes and pedestrians from both sides.
  • Revisioned traffic corridors could make areas safer for pedestrian use and eliminate the need to drive every- where.
  • Sections of our city need a mixed-use overlay, such as Truman Road, Wornall, Independence Ave., North Oak
  • Eliminate obstacles to walk, bike, public transportation
  • Consider pedestrian zones that don’t allow cars. Streetfurniture and outdoor restaurants would make the space more vibrant and livable. Local delivery traffic could be allowed during certain parts of the day, but prohibited most of the day. This could be used on the Plaza (Nichols Road) parts of downtown, Cross Roads area, Brookside and others.