(Kansas City, Mo. – July 9, 2015) The Prospect Avenue community is coming together to celebrate some very good news about efforts to re-energize this part of the city with millions of dollars in new public and private investments.
The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) is sponsoring a celebration of nearly $140 million in projects planned for Prospect Avenue in the coming years. The event, marking six projects along Prospect, will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., July 15 at the Emmanuel Community Center, 3510 Prospect Ave. Hot 103 JAMZ KPRS-FM will host a live remote from 4 to 6 p.m.
The celebration – “Progress on Prospect” -- will include a short ceremony at 6 p.m. featuring Kansas City Mayor Sly James and a video showcasing the major projects that are now underway or are planned for Prospect Avenue.
“We are all about connecting people to economic opportunity,” said KCATA President and Chief Executive Officer Joe Reardon. “This event is a great place to display how our plans for expanded transit services on Prospect mix with efforts to boost economic development in this part of our city.”
“Through public and private partnerships, millions of dollars have been invested in revitalizing the Prospect Corridor which is a cause for celebration; however, we must continue the progress,” City Councilmember Jermaine Reed said. “This event will provide an opportunity to gain information about current and future plans to invest in the corridor.”
Topping the list of investments is $74 million for the new Leon Mercer Jordan
East Patrol Campus now under construction in a four-block area near 27th & Prospect. Funded by a sales tax renewed by Kansas City voters in 2010, the project upgrades police facilities for the 21st Century. The new police station is scheduled to be completed early next year.
Private investment planned for Prospect includes the $3.6 million Morningstar Missionary Baptist Church’s Youth and Family Life Center at 27th & Prospect. The center’s mission is to help families with tutoring, job-training skills, counseling, as well as health and wellness programs. Another $12 million project is planned for Prospect with a new Linwood Shopping Center development that will include a new Sun Fresh Market.
The KCATA, in partnership with the city of Kansas City, Mo., also is planning to bring a higher level of public transportation to the corridor with a $43 million MAX bus rapid transit line, similar to what already operates on the Main Street and Troost corridors. The proposed new rapid bus line would extend nine miles along Prospect from about 75th Street into downtown Kansas City.
The event marking “Progress on Prospect” will include free food and prizes.