ORDINANCE NO. 260064, AS AMENDED

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Sponsor: Mayor Quinton Lucas

Authorizing the Director of Parks and Recreation Department, subject to the approval of the Parks and Recreation Board of Commissioners to negotiate and enter into a Lease Agreement for the Kansas City Riverfront Park with the Port Authority of Kansas City for the purpose of furthering the development and maintenance of additional recreational space on the Kansas City Riverfront.

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WHEREAS, the City of Kansas City began the development of Riverfront Park in 1965, when its Parks Superintendent Frank Vaydik initiated a plan for a park spanning over 3 square miles along the length of the Missouri River from approximately N. Olive Street on the west to the mouth of the Blue River on the east; and

WHEREAS, the City of Kansas City opened Area I of Riverfront Park in 1967, bounded by N. Olive Street on the west and N. Chouteau Trafficway on the east, which featured baseball fields, picnic areas, and later a boat ramp; and

WHEREAS, Riverfront Park stood to be one of the nation’s premier city parks, with development anticipated throughout its Area II, bounded by N. Chouteau Trafficway on the west and I-435 Bridge on the east, and its Area III, bounded by I-435 Bridge on the west and Harry S. Truman Bridge on the east; and

WHEREAS, the City of Kansas City, in coordination with the Parks and Recreation Department and the Port Authority of Kansas City, seeks to facilitate plans for the phased restoration and development of Riverfront Park, revitalizing ambitious plans for the site as one of America’s premier parks in the heart and birthplace of Kansas City, on the Missouri River; and

WHEREAS, a lease agreement between the City of Kansas City, by and through the Parks and Recreation Department, and the Port Authority of Kansas City allows for planning related to the development of the Riverfront Park site to proceed; and

WHEREAS, a temporary access agreement between the City of Kansas City, by and through the Parks and Recreation Department, and the Port Authority of Kansas City allows for the Port Authority of Kansas City to immediately provide improvements to the Riverfront Boat Ramp at Riverfront Park, including the removal of overgrowth, noxious weeds and debris; NOW THEREFORE,

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

WHEREAS, the City of Kansas City began the development of Riverfront Park in 1965, when its Parks Superintendent Frank Vaydik initiated a plan for a park spanning over 3 square miles along the length of the Missouri River from approximately N. Olive Street on the west to the mouth of the Blue River on the east; and

WHEREAS, the City of Kansas City opened Area I of Riverfront Park in 1967, bounded by N. Olive Street on the west and N. Chouteau Trafficway on the east, which featured baseball fields, picnic areas, and later a boat ramp; and

WHEREAS, Riverfront Park stood to be one of the nation’s premier city parks, with development anticipated throughout its Area II, bounded by N. Chouteau Trafficway on the west and I-435 Bridge on the east, and its Area III, bounded by I-435 Bridge on the west and Harry S. Truman Bridge on the east; and

WHEREAS, the City of Kansas City, in coordination with the Parks and Recreation Department and the Port Authority of Kansas City, seeks to facilitate plans for the phased restoration and development of Riverfront Park, revitalizing ambitious plans for the site as one of America’s premier parks in the heart and birthplace of Kansas City, on the Missouri River; and

WHEREAS, a lease agreement between the City of Kansas City, by and through the Parks and Recreation Department, and the Port Authority of Kansas City allows for planning related to the development of the Riverfront Park site to proceed; and

WHEREAS, a temporary access agreement between the City of Kansas City, by and through the Parks and Recreation Department, and the Port Authority of Kansas City allows for the Port Authority of Kansas City to immediately provide improvements to the Riverfront Boat Ramp at Riverfront Park, including the removal of overgrowth, noxious weeds and debris; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

Section 1. That, subject to the approval of and such lease terms as determined by the Parks and Recreation Board of Commissioners, the Director of Parks and Recreation is authorized to negotiate and execute a Lease Agreement with the Port Authority of Kansas City for Riverfront Park.

Section 2. The City of Kansas City, by and through the Director of Parks and Recreation, is authorized to negotiate and execute a Temporary Access Agreement with the Port Authority of Kansas City.

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Approved as to form:

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Abigail Judah

Assistant City Attorney