Photo by Dorri Partain

Dorri Partain

Managing Editor

A joint project coordinated by two city departments on land owned by Kansas City University (KCU) marks the final phase of the Paseo Gateway reconstruction, which has transformed the intersection at Independence Boulevard and The Paseo.

Realigning these boulevards for better traffic flow also necessitated the need to redirect stormwater to prevent overflows and pollution of area waterways – which also presented the opportunity to create a catchment system that was attractive and contributed to aesthetics while meeting federal guidelines. 

Along the right-of-way connected to the campus of KCU — a health sciences university at 1701 Independence Blvd. — the latest technology is combined with natural landscape to create a park-like setting accessible to students, staff and visitors.

The KC Green Infrastructure 1-2 Paseo Gateway project broke ground in fall 2024 and is nearing its completion by mid-January 2026. This $2.2 million project is funded by KC Water under the guidelines of this department’s Smart Sewer Overflow Control Plan and one of over 100 similar projects implemented city-wide to comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Consent Decree by 2035.

Green Infrastructure is defined as a wastewater treatment process that uses natural and /or engineered systems that mimic nature and divert storm water — which may contain pollutants such as road salt, pesticides and other chemicals — to areas where it is stored, infiltrated, evapotranspirated or reused.

To design and construct this project, KC Water has partnered with KC Parks and multiple contractors. Burns & McDonnell Construction Engineering developed the design, while McClure Design Professionals contributed details involving wastewater engineering. Mega KC is the construction contractor and Environmental Advisors and Engineers, Inc. developed the landscape plan that selected the variety of plants this site will host.

During an on-site interview on Thursday, Sept. 4, Tim Saxe, assistant vice president of campus planning and facilities stated the project first appeared “on the drawing board” four years ago.

Planning sessions with all the departments involved ensured a “collective vision,” Saxe shared.

“We (KCU) want to be a vocal advocate for the neighborhood,” Saxe stated. “This is an opportunity to create a welcoming arrival experience to the neighborhood and campus.”

For its contribution to the project, KCU will install lighting that matches current campus lighting and continue the black fencing that encloses the campus for student safety. KC Parks will construct sidewalks and bike paths along The Paseo right-of-way to connect Admiral Boulevard to Cliff Drive.

Within this 12-acre site, two detention basins are separated by a pedestrian bridge that allows visitors to cross over a circulating waterfall. Cut limestone slabs act as both a retaining system for the terraces as well as seating along the basin’s perimeter. A wooden deck allows for extra seating options as well as an overlook that provides additional opportunities to view the setting and landscaping.

Walkways surrounding the basin’s perimeter are ADA (American Disabilities Act) compliant.

Dozens of trees with varieties of maple, oak and gum to provide an overstory, and serviceberry, redbud and river birch to create an understory, will be planted to mimic a native landscape inside and outside the fenced perimeter.

Grasses and perennials native to the midwest climate will be planted along the water’s edge — milkweed, coneflowers and black-eyed susan — and submerged varieties will include river bullrushes, fox sedge and swamp rose mallow.

“The plan is to mimic nature,” said Daniel Richbourg, an environmental scientist contracted through McClure. While wildlife will not be introduced, he said, “We do expect the setting to attract certain species so we’ll just let it occur.” 

Within this green infrastructure project, the latest technology will monitor and control the water levels. Control panels installed at the top of basin one level and bottom of basin two level will connect with the internet and monitor upcoming weather systems. As rain amounts are predicted, water pressure controls will release basin water into the storm drains to allow for incoming precipitation to collect in the retention basins and thus prevent overflows.

Allowing for the correct planting times for certain species, the project is expected to be completed by March 15, 2026.

For more information about this and similar projects, visit www.kcsmartsewer.us.