Named for a famous hotelier who tended to the likes of Helen Keller, Babe Ruth, and Elvis at the nearby Muehlebach — downtown’s Barney Allis Plaza has become less than star-studded in recent years, but that’s all about to change.
Yesterday’s groundbreaking ceremony kicked off a years-long construction process making over the duo park + parking garage in its first facelift since 1985. See what you can expect from this central city block in the future:
Above ground amenities
The current park features little else than grass and concrete dappling its above street-level surface. When walking downtown, it’s not hard to miss.
The new and improved iteration promises an “arts-focused greenspace” with usability in mind:
- Two lawns — one sloped and one oval-shaped, meant for informal meet-ups and terraced views of the park
- Two plazas — an events space paved to host festivals, concerts, and other large gatherings + a pavilion plaza made to feature artwork and smaller pop-ups like food trucks
- A dog park — designated “play mounds” will be set aside for pooches of all pounds
- Better accessibility — rather than the stairs of yore, park-goers will be able to enter from street-level
Parking space galore
The question we’ve all been waiting for: How much parking will it have?
Technically, less than the original, but it’s not that simple. The old garage nestled below the park officially listed 975 spots, of which only 475 were useable. The new garage will comfortably house ~580 cars for Kansas City drivers looking to put down their wheels.
Looking forward to more green downtown? You’ll just have to wait a few years. The project is expected to wrap up by summer 2026.
