Page 77 - KCMO Parks Master Plan 2032

Figure 5.10: Dallas, TX Figure 5.11: Des Moines, IA Figure 5.12: Overland Park, KS
Population 1,299,544 Population 211,034 Population 197,726
acres. Des Moines, with its very large system, other three major league cities of Dallas (45),
comes in at a close second with 19.62 acres per Baltimore (43), and Cincinnati (23). When those
1,000 residents and Dallas drops to fourth. Not numbers are normalized by population, Kansas
coincidentally, KCMO also has the second largest City finds itself serving 50,929 per community
raw number of parks at 221 behind Dallas with center, the second largest constituency behind
397. However, if we normalize those numbers only its neighbor Overland Park (98,663 residents
by population and look at residents per park, per community center). Again, the question can
we see that Kansas City serves fewer residents be asked: is Kansas City not providing its citizens
per park than any other city in this peer group with enough indoor recreation opportunities,
with 2,294 resident per park. This metric can be or is it in a great position to maximize its
spun a couple of ways. On one hand, Kansas recreation resources? As discussed previously
City residents are afforded more parkland per in this report, Kansas City exists in a metro area
capita than their peers in these other five cities. with numerous indoor recreation centers in
On the other hand, KCMO must find a way to adjacent municipalities. What KCMO Parks
manage equity and stewardship across a vast and Recreation does manage and provide its
system that is anything but dense. In terms of residents that none of these peer cities do is a
other significant park system elements, the team collection of cultural facilities. None of the five
looked at a number of indoor community or peer cities manage, partner, and budget for the
recreation centers in each system. With 10 such same slate of museums that Kansas City offers.
centers, Kansas City comes in at 4th behind the The last aspect of physical park system this

Park Acreage Park Acreage per 1,000 Residents

OVERLAND PARK, KS 2,940 OVERLAND PARK, KS 14.87

DES MOINES, IA 4,170 DES MOINES, IA 19.76
BALTIMORE, MD 4,750 BALTIMORE, MD 8.33
DALLAS, TX 20,812 DALLAS, TX 16.01
CINCINNATI, OH 5,150 CINCINNATI, OH 16.64

KANSAS CITY, MO 10,500 KANSAS CITY, MO 20.62
0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00
Figure 5.13: Parks Acreage among the 6 peer cities Figure 5.14: KCMO Parks & Recreation Department
Expenditures 2023-2024

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