For my final studio project, I decided to tackle Oak St starting at Oak and 51st Street, and ending at Oak and Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd. I chose this street section for many reasons, but mainly because of its versatility and opportunity to be a great, pedestrian friendly street. Redeveloping Oak St. to be more pedestrian accessible would benefit both campus goers and the Kansas City, MO population. 

The activation of Oak Street and addition of a pathway to the Trolley Track Trail from Oak St. could greatly benefit the community. The city could easily block down Oak Street at 51st and Martin Luther King and hold events like Halloween Trick or Treating, Pride events during Pride Month, car shows or even use it as the start or end of 5K races in the metro. The street could also be used for UMKC Campus events like a back to school or end of the year event with food trucks or other fun things for the students. 

Creating a safe walkable corridor on Oak St. is important to the community and students. The existing sidewalks from Pizza 51 on Oak to the Nelson Atkins Museum are in good shape, the street just needs some traffic slowing additions like a roundabout at the intersection at Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd. The addition of an inlay in the street at the intersection of Oak and 51st can create visual appeal while slowing traffic down at that intersection. 

The addition of a daycare center on Oak street can be create for the campus economy as well. Campus is very much in need of updated childcare services for the staff and students. Oak street provides the space for this.

Oak Street also has great access to the Trolley Track Trail, making it a great area to add entrances from Oak to the Trolley Track Trail. Overall, I believe the area I chose is an important leeway between UMKC campus and KCMO. It is a very centrally located street and can provide a creative addition to the campus’ interface.