Roy Blunt Luminary Park is the new official name of the South Loop Project, announced today during the Downtown Council’s 2025 Annual Luncheon. The name was revealed by the Project Partners—City of Kansas City, Downtown Council of Kansas City, and Port KC—three years after the park’s concept was first introduced at the same event.

Distinctive. Visionary. Intuitive. Roy Blunt Luminary Park pays tribute to longtime public servant, former U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, celebrates brilliance in the heart of our city of lights, and shines bright for generations to come. He served as a U.S. Senator representing Missouri from 2011 to 2023.

“The determination of Kansas City, Downtown Council, and Port KC to create an extraordinary public space in the middle of Downtown is something that I’ve been pleased to be a part of,” said former U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt. “I was lucky to get to represent Missouri and Kansas City in the U.S. Senate and as Missouri’s Secretary of State. This park will reconnect communities and be another place that helps define Kansas City as one of America’s great cities. It is truly an honor to be associated with this park, and Abby and my family join me in our appreciation.”

An ambitious, once-in-a-generation opportunity, Roy Blunt Luminary Park will create a vibrant urban haven for gathering, play, education and cultural art, along with quiet, reflective spaces, accessible to everyone in our community.

“Roy Blunt is a true friend to Kansas City,” noted Mayor Quinton Lucas. “The Roy Blunt Luminary Park will sit in the heart of our downtown, attracting visitors from across the region and world to gather in the heart of America. It is only fitting that we honor the senator and thank his family and staff for their support of Kansas City and the South Loop Project.”

This world-class, 5.5-acre urban park will span I-670, stitching together downtown neighborhoods and transforming the corridor into a dynamic public gathering space and catalyst for economic development.

“The Roy Blunt Luminary Park signals that Kansas City continues to change the boundaries of status quo by investing in transformative projects that show the dreams of a purposeful community, and is intent on breaking down the expected to create something exceptional,” said Jon Stephens, president and CEO of Port KC.

The unveiling of the name marks a key milestone for the South Loop Project as it moves into its next phase, and continues to elevate Kansas City’s presence on the national and global stage.

“The Roy Blunt Luminary Park stands as a tribute to Senator Blunt’s deep ties to family, community, and public service,” said Bill Dietrich, president and CEO of the Downtown Council of Kansas City. “His lifelong commitment to bringing people together and improving the lives of others is reflected in this transformative space—one that will serve as a lasting legacy for Kansas City, fostering connection, inspiration, and a brighter future.”

Nestled in the center of Kansas City, this visionary and transformational green space will add yet another element to an already flourishing downtown and become a destination for residents and visitors from across the nation.

For media inquiries, please contact Sherae Honeycutt, Press Secretary for Kansas City, at Sherae.Honeycutt@kcmo.org or (816) 946-3611.