‘When is it our turn?’ south KC officials say to Roy Blunt Luminary Park

City officials, including two from south Kansas City, criticized the city’s spending before voting “no” on the Roy Blunt Luminary Park’s first phase of construction on Thursday. Construction on the deck park over Interstate 670, a public-private collaboration, is set to begin later this year following approval on Thursday.

Thursday’s ordinance authorizes more than $51 million for phase one construction as well as future maintenance costs. Sixth District Councilman Johnathan Duncan called the park project a “fiscal blunder” for Kansas City. Darrell Curls, Fifth District At-Large Councilman, expressed frustration in a lack of investment in his district despite city spending on downtown projects. 

“We’ve got needs that we can’t fund right now,” Councilman Duncan said. He added the Roy Blunt Luminary Park project is a “want” for Kansas City — not a “need.”

Duncan went on to say that Blue River Road, a former favorite route through the Fifth and Sixth Districts, has remained “abandoned” by Kansas City without funding for repairs for 14 years. Duncan asked the council how he should explain approval of the downtown park to his Sixth District constituents when Blue River Road remains closed and without fixes. 

Blue River Road, a longtime favorite route for south Kansas City residents, has long been closed due to major flood damage and road failures. Work is expected to start this fall on creating a pedestrian trail out of the closed portion between Bannister and Red Bridge Roads. The project webpage notes that conversion to a pedestrian trail would not prevent future efforts to reopen Blue River Road.

“I keep telling my constituents we don’t have the money to fix it, but we’re going to vote for this?” Duncan asked.

Duncan also warned fellow officials that the city’s general fund would be on the line if the park does not generate the economic boost that it is expected to bring. He also added that Kansas City could spend nearly $5 million from its general fund per year on maintenance for the park. That could include $1.2 million per year just for underground tunnel maintenance, he said.

Darrell Curls, Councilman for the Fifth District At-Large, also spoke out against the spending. He said the Fifth District, which includes the Hickman Mills, Swope Park and Little Blue Trace areas, has seen a historic lack of investment from the city, echoing Duncan’s concerns about Blue River Road. Curls identified areas of disinvestment in the Fifth District such as the closed Swope Park Pool and the intersection of 63rd Street and Prospect Avenue.

“I’m not opposed to this project. I’m just opposed to the funding of it,” Curls said. “… When is it our turn? When is it their turn, colleagues?”

The lengthy discussion also included Mayor Quinton Lucas, Councilwoman Melissa Patterson Hazley (Third District At-Large) and Councilman Crispin Rea (4th District At-Large). Council then approved more than $51 million to start construction on the tunnel infrastructure over the downtown connector highway.

Mayor Lucas wrapped up discussion before the ordinance was passed, telling the council there will be upcoming development opportunities for the council to vote “no” on. He also advocated for more public-private collaborations, adding the city has become too comfortable with taxpayers filling gaps in funding.

“It’s got to be a shared pathway,” the Mayor said.

The Mayor also said the reason projects such as the Roy Blunt Luminary Park or the $600 million Royals ballpark legislation end up before council is because they are the center of the necessary lobbying and legislative efforts. 

“We would love to see that same cooperation on more projects like you’re describing and many others,” Mayor Lucas said.