Beginning Soon: Water Play, Hill Slide, New Paths and Erosion Repair. EXCITING!

Projects we’ve requested in past PIAC submissions are reaching the construction phase! Please be careful and patient around “South Meadow” construction this spring and summer. It’ll be worth it. Coming soon:

The contract was awarded to the team of landscape design firm Vireo and construction firm MegaKC, who consulted with the Conservancy and the parks department as plans were developed over the past year. The PIAC-funded project will include:

1: Fixing erosion issues will be a new path made of buff colored concrete. The new direct path and steps will connect the lobes of the existing very long and winding ADA sidewalk and will replace the social path / erosion gully that has developed there. The existing ADA sidewalk will remain, and remain popular with slower walkers, small bikers, and strollers. (And skate boarders, who call it "The Snake.") Above the new path will be an apron of small rubble to prevent future erosion from extreme rain stormwater coming off of Valentine Road. 

2: A Big Hill Slide will come down from the stairs north of the tennis court. This will be a metal tube slide made by the same manufacturer as the very popular slide at the Karnes playground. Whee! The playscape designers promise “thilling but safe.”

3: A hand-pump Goric ‘Meander’ water play feature will be installed on the north corner of the tennis courts, over a colored concrete waterplay deck. This returns a water play element to the park for the first time in decades, an identified desire in the 2011 Master Plan. From the 1920’s thru the 1950’s a wading pool existed just southwest of the cave entrance, within view of where this will be installed. That pool was filled and drained on a daily basis while this one will use much less water just to play with, on a hand-pump basis.

4: The water play feature will be accessible from the east and north via a new path between the low bluff rocks and the existing playground, connecting the water play and hill slide features. Providing access from the south will be a new path around the tennis courts. This path will go between the tennis courts and the cliffs, then curve around to meet the winding ADA sidewalk. This new sidewalk will have a new park bench placed mid way, slightly overlooking the courts.

5: A new bridge will go over the spring water draining from the cave, fixing the torn up asphalt and water-soaked ground at this location. 

Pending final budgetary issues new path lighting (or electrical conduit at least) should be installed along the ADA sidewalk. This is “finishing the job” in the style of lights installed between the tennis courts and the community center, and on the south side of Karnes and has been an ask since 2019.

These major play and functional improvements will maximize enjoyment of this part of the park.

Because of the unique natural setting (bluffs, cave, and spring) these improvements will provide a unique and inclusive play opportunity for all ages and abilities, especially younger children in Kansas City’s urban core. More fun, and more ways to enjoy Roanoke Park!

See our 2022 PIAC Request article for another summary of most of these items. The 2021 video presentation at the top of that page includes explanation of the South Meadow elements. The Roanoke Park Conservancy's 2020 PIAC request also included them but was only partially funded. Our 2021 request repeated and refined some elements, and added exciting new components. 2022 and 2023 repeated requests until full funding was achieved.

The Conservancy works toward the Master Plan with PIAC Funding.

Since it was founded the Roanoke Park Conservancy has worked with the parks department to seek PIAC funding for improvements throughout the park with great success. These requests have aligned with the 2011 Master Plan, and benefited from the strong support of nearby neighborhoods. The focus of the past few years has been improving the "south meadow," the lobe of the park southwest of the community center. These improvements have included: resurfacing the tennis courts, new sidewalks, additional lighting, and entry pillars and signage. The tennis courts were resurfaced a few years ago but are needing it again. Parks staff advises in 2026 that it is time for a complete rebuilding of the tennis courts so we will request future PIAC funding for that. Amazingly, those courts seem to date to 1908. A 1909 newspaper article said a women’s Missouri Valley tennis championship was held on them.