Nominations are accepted until March 31, 2023

Be part of honoring history! What American Civil Rights Movement – tied to the Black experience in Kansas City – events, elements, or people should be illustrated along the Brush Creek Cultural Heritage Corridor Trail? Community members are invited to participate in the process to help the Kansas City Department of Parks and Recreation enhance the trail experience by submitting nominations before March 31, 2023.

The Brush Creek Cultural Heritage Corridor Trail is envisioned to be a series of 14 interconnected nodes that tell the story of the American Civil Rights Movement and the Black experience in Kansas City through art installations and interpretive signs. Designed to draw local, national, and international audiences, the trail will highlight individuals and events from this movement where people can reflect, meditate, and grieve.

“Kansas City recognizes the importance of honoring the lives, energy, emotional and physical investments of its African American population in creating and sustaining the growth and character of this City. This Brush Creek Cultural Heritage Corridor Trail will pay homage to Kansas Citians who chose to make this place their homes and the varied, wonderful cultural aspects that were instrumental to the Building of Black Kansas City,” added Carmaletta M Williams, Ph. D., chief executive officer of the Black Archives of Mid-America in Kansas City.

Artwork is a key component to convey this important historical record, which is funded by a $1 million grant from the Kauffman Foundation, plus $400,000 from the City of Kansas City, Missouri’s One Percent for Art program. Due to the extraordinary significance of this trail, a call for artists is scheduled to be released in spring of 2023. 

“I am so excited for the public art installations to be added along Brush Creek,” said Kansas Citian, Linda Clayton, “I grew up in this area attending concerts at the amphitheater and playing along the banks of the Creek. It means a lot to me that local and national Civil Rights Heritage will be honored at a place that feels like home to me.”

How to submit a nomination
Community members are encouraged to submit nominations of events and individuals they think should be recognized. People may submit multiple nominations the following ways:

• ONLINE – Visit the project website and fill out the Cultural Heritage Trail Idea Submission Form at http://www.brushcreekculturaltrail.com 
• EMAIL – Email the project team at [email protected]. Your email must include: Your name; your email address; your ZIP code; name of event or element or person to be honored; a brief description of the event, element or person; a description on why this event, element or person should be a part of the Brush Creek Community Heritage Trail.​
• U.S. MAIL – Print the Cultural Heritage Element Idea Submission Form and mail your submission via U.S. Mail to: Parson + Associates, ATTN: BCCHT Submission, 1780 Woodland Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64108. Be sure to include honoree name or event, a brief description of the individual or event, an email address or phone number where you may be contacted and your name (optional). Submissions must be postmarked by March 31, 2023.
• PRINT – Print the Cultural Heritage Element Idea Submission Form and drop off to KC Parks & Recreation, 4600 East 63rd Street, Kansas City, MO 64130 by March 31, 2023.

From the pool of public submissions, a project steering committee, along with professional historians, will evaluate every submission and decide on themes for each of the 14 selected sites. Submissions will be accepted until March 31, 2023. 

For information about the Brush Creek Cultural Heritage Corridor Trail project, visit the project website at http://www.brushcreekculturaltrail.com or contact Project Consultants Gina Boucher at [email protected] or Korey Schulz at [email protected].

About the Brush Creek Cultural Heritage Corridor Trail project
The Brush Creek Cultural Heritage Corridor Trail is envisioned to be a series of interconnected nodes that tell the story of the American Civil Rights Movement and the Black experience in Kansas City, both nationally and at the local level. The completed project and programming are intended to draw visitors to the Cultural Heritage Corridor in Kansas City, Missouri from the metropolitan area, other states, and other countries for inspiration, reflection, and education. Artwork is a key component to convey this important historical record. Interpretational materials at the nodes will be designed and installed to facilitate the development of educational programming. 

The Brush Creek Cultural Heritage Trail spans approximately one mile along the Brush Creek Greenway in Kansas City, bordered by Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard on the north, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard on the south, roughly The Paseo on the west, and just past Cleveland Avenue on the east. Learn more at http://www.brushcreekculturaltrail.com.