Signage at Kessler Park's Lookout Point aimed to prevent illegal dumping within this area. | Photo by Julia Williams

Julia Williams

Editor-in-Chief

Illegal dumping is not a new concept for Kansas City or its surrounding areas. However, Northeast residents have expressed concerns with the amount and manner in which this — as well as additional illegal activity — continues to take place around Kessler Park’s “Lookout Point” and “Reservoir Park.”

In July 2024, the Hoxie Collective LLC’s “Kessler Park Master Improvement Plan” went before the Kansas City Parks and Recreation board and received unanimous approval — with a mission to improve the safety, quality of life, wellness and access, among others, within the Northeast community. 

Of the seven parks within Kessler Park, which are included within this Master Improvement Plan is the Old Municipal Reservoir or what many residents refer to as “Reservoir Park.” 

Both Reservoir Park and Lookout Point fall near Kessler Park’s Gate 2 — just off Park Avenue within the Pendleton Heights neighborhood. 

Improvements planned for this section of the park, as laid out within the Master Improvement Plan, include to maintain and improve the disc golf course, which currently resides within this area, implementation of restrooms and a pavilion, park signage, parking, skateboarding space, landscape and a shelter, among other items. 

While all of these developments were approved for future implementation, it will be the Kessler Park Conservancy — which is composed of Northeast stakeholders, business owners and residents — who work to plan and obtain funding for each step within the improvement process of these seven parks. 

Various enhancements have seen completion so far within Maple Park, 1832 E. Missouri Ave. However, projects have not yet commenced within Reservoir Park.

While neighbors have shared their excitement for these future installations, they have also voiced frustrations over the current state of Gate 2 — including overhearing gunfire and vehicle side shows as well as visible acts of illegal dumping from discarded alcohol containers, general waste and unhoused encampments. 

Pendleton Heights resident Mark Fenner shared in an interview that he goes out each morning, rain or shine — with trash bags and a reach extender in hand — to help pick up discarded items around the park near his home along Park Avenue. This spring, he shared, he pulled six bags of trash within this area of Kessler Park after one weekend.

While the waste, he said, is frustrating, it is the gunfire, which raises the most concern among himself and fellow residents 

Over a four-year period, Fenner has collected a bag full of bullet shell casings he has found on his morning walks through the park — some of which he shared were live.

“One shell is too many,” he said in an interview. 

The Kansas City Parks and Recreation Department is aware of this illegal dumping and it is something its Deputy Director Brad Clay said they take very seriously. 

In April and May alone, Clay shared Park Rangers addressed over 200 activities and a total of 67 hours of policing to increase safety in addition to active patrolling.

A few elements rangers watch out for, he said, include illegal dumping, weapons, drugs and illegal parking.

In addition to surveillance, Reservoir Park and Lookout Point also have a dedicated mowing contractor, who performs maintenance in this location — including mowing and addressing challenges — once per week. 

Fenner did confirm that the Parks department does perform regular maintenance including emptying of the location’s two trash cans. He shared it is the limited amount of waste containers present in the park, which could be contributing to the excessive amounts of illegal dumping and that this location could benefit from additional garbage cans. 

The Parks department — and Pendleton Heights Neighborhood Association — do host volunteer clean ups for this section of Kessler Park, along with crews who the department sends out daily to address dumping throughout the park. 

However, while Fenner shared there are laws in place to prevent illegal activity within the park — including dumping and other various misdemeanor crimes — a large challenge for neighbors is getting Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) officers to enforce the laws. 

“There are people who live close to the park with kids and there are people out here shooting off weapons,” Fenner said in an interview. 

Previously, when residents — including Fenner — have reported a crime, the responses they have received vary from crews not having enough funding or personnel to do something about the situation to the incident not appearing serious enough to address. 

Clay shared Park Rangers will contact KCPD if they believe a situation is beyond their control. 

He additionally emphasizes the education element, which remains at the forefront for all Park Rangers, including not only the awareness of illegal activity but also the ability to report it as soon as it occurs. 

“It takes a village and everyone’s eyes and ears,” Clay said in an interview. “Anytime you see non-park related things happening, reach out to PD and file a report every time.”

To report a situation to KCPD, visit a nearby station, call the report desk at: 816-234-5530 or visit: https://kcpolice.org/crime/make-a-police-report-online/.