Bruce R. Watkins Connector Community Park (2024-Present)

The Bruce R. Watkins Connector Community Park is more than just green space, it’s a park that bridges neighborhoods once divided by past infrastructure projects. Thanks to $4 million in federal funding secured by Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II and a $1 million match from KC Parks and Recreation Department, this new Kansas City park is shaped directly by the people who will use it. P+A played a role in keeping community voices at the heart of the process.

Guiding a Community-Driven Vision

Originally, the grant for this park was written with an outdoor skate park in mind. P+A helped lead a public engagement process to ensure the final design truly reflected what the community wanted.

• Engagement at Every Step: P+A organized public meetings, a pop-up event at MLK Park, and online surveys to ensure broad and inclusive public participation.
• From 57 Possibilities to a Shared Vision: We helped the community determine top priorities for the park, bringing various voices and visions together.

Turning Input Into Action: With nearly 400 residents participating, P+A helped spark meaningful conversations in a community where engagement can be challenging.

Supporting the Design Process

With community preferences identified, P+A continued to touch base with the public, making sure the park’s layout reflected local desires.

• Shaping the Final Plan: P+A facilitated discussions around amenity prioritization, ensuring residents had a say in how amenities would be phased throughout the project.
• Inclusive Representation: We ensured that the voices influencing the final design truly represented those who live in the surrounding neighborhoods.
• Balancing Priorities: While a skate park remained a top choice, a pump track for bikers and a roller rink also emerged as high-priority amenities, creating a well-rounded vision for the park.

A Park With a Purpose

This project is part of a larger vision for the area, continuing the progress set in motion by projects like the Spirit of Freedom Fountain and the Celebration Trail at Brush Creek. More than just adding amenities, this park is about restoring community connections and creating a space for everyone to gather and play. The Bruce R. Watkins Connector Community Park is a testament to what’s possible when residents, local leaders, and city planners collaborate to reimagine their shared spaces.