The largest lesson learned in a review of thematic maps on the status of the Parks and Boulevard System in Kansas City, MO is the low level of population within the 1940 boundaries of the city. In 2010, our study area with a population of just over 179,000 had almost the same population of Overland Park, Kansas with 173,000. Overland Park continues to grow and has reached 181,000 as of 2013 — a higher number than the 2010 population in our study area. In the 1940 Census Kansas City Missouri had just over 399,000 people. Our city has lost 220,000 people within our study area boundary. This is a 55% decline over the period and reveals a rate of decline of more than 1% a year.  The 1940 boundaries of Kansas City Mo are essentially the same as the 1909 boundaries. Our population today is 79,000 less in this area than our 1910 population of 248,000.

This has large implications on the capacity to maintain and restore the historic parks and boulevard system within this area of the city.

Sources: US Census Bureau 2015 Quick Facts,

US Census Analysis of the 100 Largest Places since 1790 (https://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0027/tab17.txt).

Student analyses in UMKC UPD 312 Urban Planning + Design studio.