The Kansas City Council Committee of the Whole on Sept. 2 authorized the mayor to sign a consultant services agreement with Site Workshops LLC to advance the Uplands Playfield and spray‑park project from concept to full design.

Kyle Woods, presenting for Parks, said the final concept was completed in May following a community engagement process that drew more than 1,400 responses. The engagement shaped six guiding principles including an active plaza, a playground, a spray park, a large lawn area, shade and a shelter. Woods said Site Workshops — which the presenter said has built spray parks in the region — will prepare final plan sets.

Woods explained the site is currently underdeveloped, with small informal softball areas and frequent mole damage to turf. He noted the project boundary for a pending $3,000,000 National Park Service grant is limited to city property; improvements on the Interurban Trail and other adjacent areas are desired but could not be paid for with that NPS funding.

Council members asked whether existing small softball fields would be relocated (Woods said they would be removed and were not heavily used) and whether the lawn area would sustain recreational use. Woods said the lawn is intended for camps and informal play, and that a restroom is included in the concept. The council moved, seconded and approved authorization for the mayor to sign the agreement subject to terms acceptable to the parks director and city attorney.

Why it matters: the authorization starts the full‑design phase for a neighborhood park amenity that staff and residents expect will draw summer visitors, school groups and camps; the project relies in part on competitive external grant funds with restrictions on where those dollars may be spent.