the history of kansas city, missouri's parks & boulevard system, including roanoke park

Historic Parks & Boulevard System of KCMO

The Historic Parks & Boulevard System

ofKansas City, Missouri

Dona R. BoleyMay 1, 2010

HISTORIC BOULEVARD


George Ehrich,

former Professor of Art History at the University of Missouri-Kansas

City, wrote in

Kansas City, Missouri an Architectural History

1826-1976


“In many ways the most notable

design achievement of the 1890s

was the park and boulevard system

which had been designed by

George E. Kessler and constructed

under his supervision. . .


“His plan for the city was a bold

and effective demonstration

of the concept of the

“City Beautiful.”


“The conversion of blighted bluffs

and ravines into parks, which were

linked by a boulevard system of

considerable extent, presented a

model to be emulated by others.


“The plan was intended to affect

the placement and design of

buildings, and it indeed

worked that way.”


To fully appreciate the significance of the parks and boulevard system, one really needs to understand a little history of the city prior to the system.

In spring of 1834 John Calvin McCoy found a flat stone outcropping at the base of the future Grand avenue and widened the horse path through the forest to West Port. The four-mile ride from the landing to West Port took about two hours.

Major John Campbell platted West Port in 1835.

Town of Kansas formed in 1838. In 1850 the settlement was recognized as a town and in 1853 it received its formal charter and its new name, City of Kansas. The name Kansas City would not become official until 1880.


Kansas City Census

% change

1860 4,400

1870 32,300 634%

1880 55,800 73%

1890 133,000 138%

1900 164,000 23%

1910 248,000 51%

1920 324,000 31%

2007 est 459,000 41%


City Limits

Missouri River on the northStateline on the west

South & East Boundaries (approx)

1859 20th & Troost

1885 31st & Cleveland

1897 49th & Eastern

1909 77th & Eastern


Early Events

• 1872 offer of 40 acres for park turned down• Newspaper agitation urged buying of

parkland• 1880 William Rockwell Nelson arrives• 1881 George E. Kessler hired to design

excursion park in Merriam, KS • 1882 August R. Meyer arrives


August R. MeyerMillionaire industrialist

Educated in Europe

Avid outdoorsman & nature enthusiast

Became a social & civic leader

To him city beautification was imperative:

“A community must attract with more than just tax concessions and columns of figures.”


Parks Board

• 1889 charter sets up board of park commissioners

• 1892 amendment defines board financial power

• 1892 first park board appointed• Meyer becomes first president• Kessler hired as secretary at $200 per month

& as Engineer to the Board without pay


George E. KesslerEducated in Europe

Received private instruction in forestry, botany, and landscape design

Worked at major German plant nursery

Studied technical engineering

Studied at premier horticultural library in Germany

Completed civil engineering course

Toured Europe & England for one year study of civic design in major cities

“Of all of it,” he later said, “the travel was of

most value.”


Park Board Challenges

• Only appropriated $5,000• Several residential areas already

deteriorating—need to improve eyesores• Need number of small parks to benefit the

most• Economy still recovering from real estate

collapse & unemployment is high


Park Board Challenges

• Southern city limits getting close to Westport & the new president lives in Westport & not Kansas City

• Big Blue Valley is becoming industrialized• Current residential development is spotty &

haphazard• City’s bonding capacity is tapped out


Mayor W. S. Cowherd charged the Board of Parks & Boulevard Commissioners with investigating and researching pleasure-grounds and boulevards for the city.

Result was 1893 Report of the Board of Parks & Boulevard Commissioners.

Prepared by George E. Kessler, Kansas City Park Board Secretary, and August R. Meyer, President, Kansas City Park Board Commissioners.


1893 Report

Detailed and comprehensive look at Kansas City’s topography and traffic patterns, population density and growth, its industrial and residential sections, and its prospects for future development.

It was, in a word, planning.

It contained three primary sections: a letter of transmittal to the mayor; a detailed report from the board, and a technical report [engineer’s report].


Report of the Commissioners

• Growth of the Sentiment in Favor of Parks in Kansas City

• Aim & Justification of Park Improvement• Preliminary Work of the Park Commission• The Value of Beauty• The City's Duty• Effect of Parkways or Boulevards Upon Real Estate

Values• Experience of Other Cities


Bold Plan Went Outside the City

Limits

Included:

Boulevards & Parkways

The Parade (for large demonstrations & public gatherings)

Local parks

Pleasure-grounds (Penn Valley Park, West Terrace & North Terrace)


North Terrace Before


North Terrace During


Cliff Drive (North Terrace) After


West Terrace Before


West Terrace After


Map of Parks & Boulevard System

Shows system prior to the 1909 extension of

the city limits

System greatly expanded

Parks connected by Boulevards & Parkways

Swope Park donation outside the city limits


Penn Valley Park


Hyde Park


Armour Boulevard


Harrison Parkway


1920 System

• 1,992.25 acres of parks

• 676 acres of parkways

• 89.40 miles of improved boulevards & park drives


1920 Planned

• 37.20 mile of boulevards & park drives

• 24.40 miles of roadways in parkways

• 762.34 acres in parkways

• 40.72 acres in parks


1920 Total System

• 151.00 miles of boulevard & park drives improved and planned

• 3,471.31 acres of parks & parkways acquired and planned


Total Cost as of April 19, 1920

Acquisition of Lands $ 8,333,968.19

Construction 5,365,244.20

Maintenance 3,220,660.64

Total $16,919,873.03


Map Showing Park System & Extensions

to 1915

Proposed Blue Valley Parkway was never implemented. A moveable dam would have created a 140 acre lake and filled the Blue River from 10 to 20 feet through Swope Park, making a boating course 15 miles in length. This naturally pretty stream would have become “one of the most useful and beautiful waterways in the country.”


Designed Historic Landscapes

Designed historic landscapes are one type of landscape within the broader category of

historic landscapes.

Ladies-on-Karnes-Roanoke

https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=f00ad9a8ba&view=att&th=12850a11bd559495&attid=0.1&disp=inline&zw

Lkg-NE-near-37th-Wyoming 1906


Roanoke-Rd-lkg-W-36-Belleview

P-R3-015-Inter-Tiernam-dr-main-roadwa

https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=f00ad9a8ba&view=att&th=12850a7313f06cc6&attid=0.3&disp=inline&zw

P-R3-012-Summit-St-entrance

P-R3-011-East-of-Belleview-1907

P-R3-010-Holly-St-1907

Roanoke Park Bluffs


The main part of Roanoke Park is in a natural valley, surrounded by outcroppings on three sides. Other 'extensions' of the park contain huge trees growing along steep hills. The Colman Highlands Neighborhood is to the North, Volker is to the West and Roanoke and Valentine are to the east of the park.


National Historic Register Significance Criteria

• Design or work of art

• Work by a master using a recognized style or tradition

• Has historical association with person, trend, event, etc. in landscape architecture

• Relationship to the theory or practice of landscape architecture


Many historic landscape are eligible for the National Register primarily on the merits of their historic landscape design, a substantial number also possess significance in other areas.

New York’s Central Park, for example, has significance in social history and transportation, although its primary significance is landscape architecture.


1893 Parks & Boulevard System Historic Resources Survey

• 1988• Prepared by Deon K. Wolfenbarger• Prairie Gateway Chapter, American Society of

Landscape Architects• Missouri Department of Natural Resources with

funds from Department of Interior, National Park Service


1893 Parks & Boulevard System Historic Resources Survey

• Benton & Independence Boulevards• Budd Park• North Terrace Park (Kessler Park)• Penn Valley Park• The Grove• The Parade• The Paseo (partial)• West Terrace Park


1988 Historic Resources Survey

• Document research• Field survey with documentation in detail to

permit evaluation & registration in the National Register of Historic Places

• American Society of Landscape Architect’s National Survey Form

• Evaluation of integrity & significance with National Register Bulletins 16 & 18


1893 Parks & Boulevards Significance

• For the role they played in the legal establishment of the entire parks system.

• As the first efforts of community planning in Kansas City.

• As representative of George E. Kessler’s work.


1893 Parks & Boulevards Significance

The system was the result of a detailed and comprehensive look at Kansas City’s topography, traffic patterns, population and growth, commercial, industrial, and residential sections.

The plan included redevelopment of three blighted areas in Kansas City—the west bluffs, the Penn Street ravine, and the narrow block which was to become The Paseo.


1893 Parks & Boulevards SignificanceAs significant as these early parks and boulevards are, it is

important to note that they never existed together as a system except in the 1893 report. By the time the legal battles were completed for some of the parks, new parks had been added to the system, and the boulevards extended.

The final evaluation of the 1893 parks and boulevards could not be made until they were placed in the proper context. For their relation to the design of the entire park system as it exits today.


Landscape Architectural/Historic Survey of Parks & Boulevards, 1893-1940

• 1990

• Board of Parks & Recreation Commissioners, KCMO

• Missouri Department of Natural Resources with funds from Department of Interior, National Park Service

• Tourbier & Walmsle, Inc., Architectural & Art Historical Research & Theis Doolittle Associates


Landscape Architectural/Historic Survey of Parks & Boulevards, 1893-1940

• Surveyed 29 Parks & 31 Boulevards

• 1940 System covered sixty square miles

• System, except for central business district, was evenly distributed over the developed city

• Included 72 features such as bridges, buildings, fountains, etc.


George E. Kessler & The1893-1940 Parks & Boulevard System

• Kessler’s relationship with KCMO Parks & Boulevard Board lasted from 1893 to 1923, his death.

• All but 4 parks & boulevards in the survey were designed between 1893-1922, within Kessler’s lifetime.

• The Kansas City, MO, parks & boulevard system is the most complete fulfillment of Kessler’s ideas for a citywide network of connected parks.

• No other city has such a complete system of parks & boulevards.


Historic Significance

System is remarkable for both its comprehensiveness & degree to which it was

completed, in accordance with Kessler’s overall design during his lifetime. And

continued by others who had worked with him and understood his intentions.


The system itself warrants special recognition and is eligible for the

National Register of Historic Places as a

Designed Historic Landscape

significance for its landscape architecture and as the work of a master.

Survey Results


Individual Park & Boulevard Evaluations

**** Exceptional significance

*** High or major significance

** Some significance

* Minor significance

o No significance


Survey Star Rating Results

**** 6 parks, 9 boulevards & 1 part of a boulevard

*** 5 parks, 10 boulevards & 4 parts of boulevards

** 7 parks, 4 boulevards* 5 parks, 1 boulevard & 1 part of a

boulevardo 6 parks, 2 boulevards & 4 parts of

boulevards


Survey Star Rating Results

Landscapes in the top two categories should be treated with the greatest priority, and may even be so designated for extra special attention.

Opportunities through planning and management should emphasize preservation and restoration.

Necessary changes and additions should be most sympathetically considered.


Purpose of the System

• Increase property values by giving permanent residence character to sections of the city

• Support healthful minds and bodies with rural surroundings & beautiful natural scenery

• Draw businesses & population by providing beautiful city


Purpose of the System

• Hold unbroken highlands for residential and the principal valley lands for transportation & industrial uses

• Provide pleasure drives for light driving


Epilogue- Roanoke Park Assessment in 1990

KCMO Parks & Boulevard History

•The 1990 Landscape Architectural/Historic Survey of the parks and boulevard system determined that Roanoke Park, Karnes Boulevard, and Valentine Boulevard are 4 stars, the highest rating. They are exceptionally significant.

•Landscapes in this category should be treated with the greatest priority, and may even be so designated for extra special attention. Opportunities through planning and management should emphasize preservation and restoration. Necessary changes and additions should be most sympathetically considered.


The HistoricParks & Boulevard

System ofKansas City,

Missouri

Dona R. BoleyMay 1, 2010


Karnes nearby 36thApril 2010


Karnes by Belleview April 2010

the history of kansas city, missouri's parks & boulevard system, including roanoke park

Documents