Third District Plan Includes Multi-Million-Dollar Youth Entertainment District

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Planning is underway for a multi-million-dollar youth entertainment district along Brush Creek and Cleaver Blvd. from Elmwood to Cleveland. 

Area teens have been known to flock to the Country Club Plaza or local malls looking for things to do.  The proposed youth entertainment district hopes to give youth and young adults in the city their own space. 

It’s an idea that experts say can have a positive impact. Research shows that having places for people – particularly youth –  to have cheap or free fun allows them to “bridge social capital across difference” and positively impacts the participants’ social mobility.

The Oak Park Neighborhood Association has been pushing for a youth entertainment district for years, and association president Pat Clarke says it’s important to give youth something to do, lest they turn to crime. 

“All these kids that are stealing these cars, they live around here, but just imagine if these kids had something else to do,” Clarke told Fox 4. 

Clarke already has a basketball court bearing his name in the area where he runs a summer Hoops at Night program. The weekend program provides area youth something cheap to do on the weekend, but it also keeps them out of trouble. The basketball sessions have strict rules like no bags courtside, and the youth entertainment district will likely have similar rules to ensure safety. 

The Kansas City Parks and Recreation Dept. has approved pre-development of the youth district on presently undeveloped park land, and the city council has set aside $1 million in seed funding.  

Olsson, an engineering and design firm, has been contracted to complete the initial renderings and concept for the district, but the city hopes to have the input of young people in what the district ultimately becomes. 

“We envision that it will be designed, developed, and 100% operated by young people in Kansas City,” says 3rd District Councilwoman Melissa Robinson. 

The proposed youth entertainment district hopes to give both recreation and job opportunities to young people in the inner city. 

The initial concept plan includes a bowling alley, pool, zip line, skate park, arcade, and amphitheater. The project will be completed in phases, and Robinson says the first part will be an outdoor component like a ropes course. 

While planning is underway, there are some obstacles for the youth entertainment district to clear.  The land set aside for the district is in a flood plain.  In addition, funding needed for the youth district was estimated at $28 million in the $522M Third District Equitable Economic Development plan. So far, the project has $1M in seed funding and a need to secure the deficit.   

Robinson remains optimistic the project will at least break ground in the next few years.

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