Dorri Partain
Dorri Partain
Managing Editor
The intersection at Lexington and Brooklyn Avenues in the Pendleton Heights neighborhood has blossomed within recent years with locally-owned businesses, including a popular coffee shop and new pizza restaurant. In coming months, this intersection will continue to expand its offerings for alfresco dining and outdoor enjoyment.
PH Coffee (2200 Lexington Ave.) opened in 2019 and has continued to expand its operating hours and footprint since. While this coffee shop currently has an outdoor space — with wooden picnic tables and flower planters — owner Eric Rosell applied for a grant last year, which would allow his business to upgrade the paved area on the east side of the building.
Kansas City’s Outdoor Dining Enhancement Grant provided $200,000 to 20 area-restaurants, representing a wide variety of city-wide dining options. This grant was backed by Mayor Quinton Lucas and Second District Councilman Wes Rogers and funded through the City’s 2024 Convention and Tourism budget. More than 120 applications were submitted by eateries hoping to enhance their outdoor dining spaces in preparation for the 2026 World Cup soccer event and beyond.
Award recipients were announced on Dec. 3, 2024. During the announcement, Mayor Lucas stated, “Our small businesses are the backbone of our community and when we support them, our entire community thrives. I look forward to seeing how each business will use their funds to showcase the creativity of our culinary community.”
Rosell submitted plans that would upgrade the current outdoor tables and planters at PH Coffee, as well as add a canopy to provide shade.
“We were awarded $9k from the grant program to enhance our outdoor space,” Rosell said in an email. “We are hoping to combine those funds with our own funds and put in a few items to make our parking lot dining area more enjoyable during the summer months. In conjunction with the patio area, we are working on building out the trailer that is currently in the back of the patio so customers can order from the patio.”
Rosell has also collected input from customers regarding design elements. He expects work to begin the first week of May.
Just across from PH Coffee is a green space owned by the Pendleton Heights Neighborhood Association. The association was deeded this corner lot in July 2012 and has made some improvements over the years — early additions included a shaded sitting area and a mosaic hopscotch game.
With funding totaling $44,916 from Missouri Department of Conservation, this Pocket Park will receive a host of improvements including nature-themed play structures, additional seating and enclosed with decorative fencing for a safer play environment.
Input from neighbors was collected by Hoxie Collective LLC in sessions held in June and September 2024.
A little free game library is planned for a prime spot at the park’s entrance, accessible to anyone walking by. The area will be enhanced with plantings of native trees and flowers, with educational signage and solar lighting. The east-facing wall at 2115 Lexington Ave. — formerly Pearl’s Beauty Salon — will allow for a nature-themed mural to complete the makeover.
Contractor Nomad Trails Development began clearing the lot on Monday, April 7, and the park will be closed until construction is completed later this month. Plantings will be completed by volunteers from the neighborhood and community partner, Kansas City University.
The neighborhood’s garden and orchard steward Whitney Barnado said the association has plans to celebrate this new space on Friday, Sept. 12. Pocket Park will also be available to rent for private events such as birthday parties and wedding showers, along with neighborhood gatherings.
For more information about the Pendleton Heights Neighborhood Association, visit phkc.org.
Julia Williams
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