Kansas City cuts ribbon on 18th Street pedestrian mall in historic Jazz District

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Kansas City’s historic Jazz District opened a new pedestrian mall Wednesday after nearly a year of construction.

City leaders cut the ribbon on the 18th Street pedestrian mall, which runs from the Paseo to Woodland. The stretch will be car-free during certain events.

The project removed curbs, gutters and parking spots to make the area more pedestrian-friendly during festivals and events. The car-free mall sits in front of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and the American Jazz Museum.

Part of ‘Revive the Vine’ effort

The pedestrian mall is part of a larger push to “Revive the Vine,” turning the historic Jazz District into a place where people spend the whole day and return again.

For generations, 18th & Vine was where Kansas City’s culture lived. Jazz. Baseball. History.

“We have something that nobody else does,” said Nicolas Bosonetto, city engineer for Kansas City. “And it’s time to celebrate it and to attract people. And hopefully, we get more entertainment, more restaurants, you know, more reasons to come here.”

Bosonetto said the project celebrates the African-American culture and history of Kansas City.

The project started by asking the community what they wanted, Bosonetto said. The pedestrian mall can be closed off to traffic for celebrations like Juneteenth.

Talmage Chinn, who lives near 18th and Vine, said the changes are significant.

“It is off the chain,” Chinn said. “When you come down here, you’re going like, ‘Dang, it ain’t like it used to be.’ The crime has gone down. You got tight security. So, it’s real good.”

Traffic and parking details

The street will remain open to traffic on normal days. Removable bollards can be installed during events to close the block to vehicles for safety.

On-street parking has been eliminated. A new Jazz District Garage recently opened at East 18th Street and Lydia Avenue.

The project includes new streetscaping, lights, banners and seating. City leaders said attention to detail was a priority to make the district look as attractive as possible.

Development continues

Development in the area includes the Boone Theater, the Parker Building and the new Negro Leagues Museum.

The pedestrian mall is expected to attract visitors during the World Cup, though Bosonetto said the project was not created because of the tournament. The World Cup provided a deadline to complete the work.

City leaders said the ribbon cutting is a signal that the neighborhood is being rebuilt.