The Paseo
Encyclopedia
Parkway
The term parkway has several distinct principal meanings and numerous synonyms around the world, for either a type of landscaped area or a type of road.Type of landscaped area:...
in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
. It runs 19 miles (30.6 km) (85 blocks) in the center of the city: from Cliff Drive and Lexington Avenue on the bluffs above the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
in the Pendleton Heights
Pendleton Heights
Pendleton Heights is a historic neighborhood in Kansas City, Missouri, United States. It is located near the downtown loop, between Paseo and Chestnut Trafficway to the west and east, and Independence Boulevard and Cliff Drive to the south and north....
historic neighborhood, to 85th Street and Woodland Avenue. The parkway holds 223 acre (0.90244978 km²) of boulevard parkland dotted with several Beaux-Arts-style decorative structures and architectural details maintained by the city's Parks and Recreation department. Many areas along this street have become blighted over the years and it runs through some of the most crime-ridden areas of the city.
Background
Kansas City's extensive parkway and boulevard system is part of the City Beautiful MovementCity Beautiful movement
The City Beautiful Movement was a reform philosophy concerning North American architecture and urban planning that flourished during the 1890s and 1900s with the intent of using beautification and monumental grandeur in cities. The movement, which was originally associated mainly with Chicago,...
. The Paseo parkway is modeled on the Paseo de la Reforma
Paseo de la Reforma
Paseo de la Reforma is a wide avenue that runs in a straight line, cutting diagonally across Mexico City. It was designed by Ferdinand von Rosenzweig in the 1860s and modeled after the great boulevards of Europe, such as Vienna's Ringstrasse or the Champs-Élysées in Paris...
in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
; from which it takes its name. From its start at Cliff Drive, the original alignment changed to install the on-ramp to Interstate 35, it curves slightly southwest before heading almost due south for most of its length. A few city parks are located adjacent to The Paseo, such as Parade Park (Truman Road
Truman Road
Truman Road, Truman, or 15th Street is a major east/west road in Jackson County, Missouri. It serves Kansas City, Missouri, Independence, and eastern unincorporated Jackson County. Its western terminus is at Broadway Boulevard & I-670 in downtown Kansas City, and its eastern terminus is at the...
& The Paseo) and Troost Park (31st Street & The Paseo). Multiple mini-parks may be seen along the median.
The parkway was laid out in the early 1900s by George Kessler
George Kessler
George Edward Kessler was a German American pioneer city planner and landscape architect.Over the course of his forty-one year career, George E. Kessler completed over 200 projects and prepared plans for 26 communities, 26 park and boulevard systems, 49 parks, 46 estates & residents, and 26 schools...
under the direction of August Robert Meyer
August Meyer
August R. Meyer was a minig engineer, founding organizer of Leadville, Colorado, and developed the park and boulevard system for Kansas City, Missouri as first president of the Commission of Parks.-Background:...
, first president of the Commission of Parks. A Daniel Chester French
Daniel Chester French
Daniel Chester French was an American sculptor. His best-known work is the sculpture of a seated Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.-Life and career:...
sculpture honoring Meyer, dedicated in 1909, stands at 10th and Paseo.
The Paseo intersects with U.S. 71, U.S. 40, I-70, U.S. 24, and U.S. 56. The Paseo Bridge
Paseo Bridge
The Paseo Bridge was a suspension bridge over the Missouri River in Kansas City, Missouri. Before being replaced by the Christopher S. Bond Bridge, it carried Interstates 29 and 35 and U.S. Route 71 over the river.-Background and History:...
does not actually carry The Paseo boulevard but is aligned with its route.
Trucks are prohibited from using the Paseo.
Points of interest along The Paseo
- Dr. Generous Henderson HouseDr. Generous Henderson HouseThe Dr. Generous Henderson House is currently a private residence located at 1016 The Paseo, once one of the most prestigious areas of Kansas City, Missouri. It is the only surviving example of the Second Renaissance Revival style of architecture in Kansas City.The house was built for a Dr....
, designed by Rudolf Markgraf in 1899, is the only remaining example of Second Renaissance Revival style in Kansas City, on the National Register of Historic Places, at 1016 The Paseo. - The 18th and Vine Historic District, on the National Register of Historic Places.
- "Bird Lives," statue honoring Charlie "Bird" ParkerCharlie ParkerCharles Parker, Jr. , famously called Bird or Yardbird, was an American jazz saxophonist and composer....
, jazz saxophone player, by Robert GrahamRobert GrahamRobert Graham may refer to:*Sir Robert Graham , one of the assassins of James I of Scotland*Robert Graham of Gartmore , Scottish politician and poet...
, at 17th Terrace. - The Paseo YMCAPaseo YMCAThe Paseo YMCA is a U.S. historic YMCA in Kansas City, Missouri.-History:The Paseo YMCA was opened in 1914, when Julius Rosenwald encouraged Kansas Citians to raise $80,000 toward building a new YMCA...
, plans for the future home of the Buck O'Neil Education Research Center. - Troost Lake and park, located at 27th Street.
- Scottish RiteScottish RiteThe Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry , commonly known as simply the Scottish Rite, is one of several Rites of the worldwide fraternity known as Freemasonry...
Temple, monumental Beaux-Arts/Egyptian Revival civic auditorium, designed by Keene and Simpson (1930), at Linwood Boulevard. - Stoplight, unusual signal made of cut-stone in the middle of the intersection designed by Edward Buehler DelkEdward Buehler DelkEdward Buehler Delk was a prominent architect who designed many landmark buildings in the Midwest and Southwest regions of The United States.Delk was born in 22 Sep 1885 Schoharie, New York. He graduated from University of Pennsylvania in 1907...
(1931), at Linwood Boulevard. - Keneseth Israel-Beth Shalom Synagogue (now Christ Temple Church), colorful twin mosaic domes on a Byzantine-style building, by Greenbaum, Hardy, and Schumacher (1927), at 34th Street.
- Faxon Montessori, located at Linwood Boulevard (32nd Street).
- Gates Bar-B-QGates Bar.B.Q.Gates Bar-B-Q is one of two Kansas City, Missouri restaurants that trace their roots back to Henry Perry, the founder of the Kansas City barbecue. The other restaurant is Arthur Bryant's located at 1727 Brooklyn.-Founded:...
restaurant on Cleaver II Boulevard at Paseo. The headquarters are located at 4621 Paseo. (The former Gates Bar-B-Q headquarters was at Volker Boulevard.) - Children's Mercy Teen ClinicChildren's Mercy HospitalChildren's Mercy Hospital is a comprehensive pediatric hospital located in Kansas City, Missouri that provides medical care to patients from birth to 18 years of age. Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics is the only free-standing children's hospital between St. Louis and Denver.-The Berry...
, at 46th Street. - Rockhurst UniversityRockhurst UniversityRockhurst University is a private, coeducational Jesuit university located in Kansas City, Missouri, founded in 1910 as Rockhurst College. The school adheres to the motto etched into the stone of the campus bell tower: "Learning, Leadership, and Service in the Jesuit Tradition." It is one of 28...
, from Rockhurst Road (52nd Street) to 54th Street. - Brush Creek, from Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard to Volker Boulevard.
- The Landing Mall, located at 63rd Street.
- Nazarene Theological SeminaryNazarene Theological SeminaryNazarene Theological Seminary is a Christian seminary affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene. It is located in Kansas City, Missouri, which was formerly also the location of the headquarters of the Church of the Nazarene...
and Church of the NazareneChurch of the NazareneThe Church of the Nazarene is an evangelical Christian denomination that emerged from the 19th century Holiness movement in North America with its members colloquially referred to as Nazarenes. It is the largest Wesleyan-holiness denomination in the world. At the end of 2010, the Church of the...
World Headquarters, at Meyer Boulevard. - Route 54 - Armour/Paseo travels on parts of Paseo between Armour BoulevardArmour BoulevardArmour Boulevard, Armour, or 35th Street is a major west-east main street that runs in Kansas City, Missouri, USA, from Broadway Boulevard to The Paseo. It is named in honor of Simeon B...
(35th Street) and 85th Street.
Sites named after The Paseo
- Paseo BridgePaseo BridgeThe Paseo Bridge was a suspension bridge over the Missouri River in Kansas City, Missouri. Before being replaced by the Christopher S. Bond Bridge, it carried Interstates 29 and 35 and U.S. Route 71 over the river.-Background and History:...
, near its starting point. - Paseo AcademyPaseo AcademyPaseo Academy, also referred to as Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts, and sometimes as Paseo High School is a magnet performing arts high school located at 4747 Flora in Kansas City, Missouri...
, a magnet performing arts high school. - Route 54 - Armour/Paseo, a city transportation bus route.
- Paseo YMCAPaseo YMCAThe Paseo YMCA is a U.S. historic YMCA in Kansas City, Missouri.-History:The Paseo YMCA was opened in 1914, when Julius Rosenwald encouraged Kansas Citians to raise $80,000 toward building a new YMCA...
, a historic YMCA that is part of a renovation plan.
Trivia
- Tech N9neTech N9neAaron Dontez Yates , better known by his stage name Tech N9ne , is an American rapper from Kansas City, Missouri. In 1999, Yates and Travis O'Guin founded the record label Strange Music. Throughout his career, Yates has sold over one million albums and has had his music featured in film,...
has a song named after The Paseo (The Poem Aaron Saw Extra Ordinary) which is the last song on his collaboration album Misery Loves KompanyMisery Loves KompanyMisery Loves Kompany is the seventh studio album by rapper Tech N9ne, and the first release in the "Collabos" series. The album was recorded in one month and was released on July 17, 2007. It features 17 tracks featuring artists such as Yukmouth, T-Nutty, D-Loc & Dalima, Greed, Money Hungry, Big...
.