Over 200 people attended the first in-person, open house public meeting for the South Loop Project. Public Meeting #1 was held from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the Kirk Family YMCA located at 222 W. 11th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105. 

The community was invited to view informational boards presenting the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, site analysis, and potential park features and amenities. Project team members were available to talk through the boards and facilitate two public engagement activities. People could come and go at their convenience to view multiple boards placed around the perimeter of the room.

The purpose of Public Meeting #1 was to:

• Present a project overview, the NEPA process, and the Purpose and Need.
• Present a variety of project topics and site analysis data.
• Elicit feedback through an interactive dot exercise to weigh in on the park vision, as well as potential features and amenities, and provide an opportunity for attendees to leave open-ended comments.
• Launch a survey for those who were unable to attend online.

At the park vision and preferences boards, attendees had the opportunity to participate in two dot activities to provide feedback; first, to place one dot on their preferred vision for the park in Kansas City, and second, to place five dots on their top park amenity preferences among 20 options.

For those who were unable to attend the in-person public meeting the same activities were available as an online survey (in English and Spanish), from March 7-21, 2023.

Public Feedback Results Combined – In Person and Online Survey

The in-person and online survey received over 1,600 responses total. Respondents felt that the South Loop Project in Kansas City should be:

1. The Community Front Yard for Downtown
2. A Green Refuge in the City
3. The Place for Civic & Cultural Events
4. Other
   

Respondents selected their top five preferences for park features and amenities. Their responses were as follows in this order.