KCTV 5Neighbors work together to transform park into green space

Neighbors work together to transform park into green space

A midtown community is working together to turn a local park into a green space it can be proud of.

Neighbors want to transform a small portion of the 38 acres in Roanoke Park, but with few city dollars, nearby homeowners decided to take matters into their own hands for a green space that hasn't been so green.

A group of neighbors donated $10,000 to the Roanoke Park Conservancy, a grassroots organization made up of nearby homeowners, to build a sitting area and lookout point in the historic neighborhood.

The city parks department faced funding challenges and an uphill battle maintaining its land in the past years.

Those struggles took a toll in areas like Roanoke Park which residents say became so overgrown, it was considered "creepy" to walk in and around.

In the past year, neighbors volunteered their time and effort to clean up debris and excessive growth, and now they have pitched in their own money.

"As we lamented and times got worse, and budgets were tight, we though well, if not us, who? So we forged this volunteer effort and forged this public, private enterprise with the Kansas City, MO Parks and Recreation Department," Curt Watkins, of the Roanoke Park Conservancy, said.

Architects and designers pitched in their expertise, and they have created a master plan that would cost $1 million.

Of course the funding is just not there, but it is a vision this neighborhood believes can come to fruition with enough dedication.

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