Kansas City Better Block a success
- Admin
- Oct 18, 2012
- 1 min read
Updated: Jul 31, 2019
We’re happy to report that despite the cool weather, the Kansas City Better Block was a massive success! A large number of attendees showed up including the mayor and city manager to help celebrate the block revitalization effort. A stretch of Grand Boulevard was thinned and pedestrianized as part of the effort which included temporary tree installations, landscaped bulb-outs, two-way bike lanes, and more.
Check out the group’s Tumblr page to see more examples of the street improvements and details on future plans for the area.
More info on and press on the event here:
thinning Grand Boulevard and adding two-way bike lanes is exactly the kind of tactical urbanism that gets communities excited about what's possible. For groups documenting events like this on Flickr and social media, it's worth running crowd photos through a batch photo processing tool before publishing widely, especially for larger public gatherings where attendees didn't necessarily expect to be photographed for press coverage.
The success of the Kansas City Better Block highlights how temporary street redesigns can demonstrate the benefits of safer, more people-focused urban spaces, encouraging public support for long-term improvements. Much like in the Trees Hate You game, where navigating environmental obstacles requires adaptation and creative thinking, city planners can use experimental projects such as pedestrianized streets and bike lanes to reimagine how public spaces serve communities.