KC Streetcar Riverfront Extension project, which is expected for completion in early 2026. | Photo by Julia Williams

Julia Williams

Editor-in-Chief

In the past year since the KC Current (CPKC) Women’s Soccer stadium opened in March 2024 at 1460 E. Front St., near Berkley Riverfront Park, Kansas City has experienced an upswing in traffic flow toward this area and developers have taken notice.

On March 26, the Kansas City Current — in conjunction with Palmer Square Real Estate Management, a financial services company, and Marquee Development, a real estate developer, which specializes in entertainment districts — broke ground on what will be a $200 million, mixed-use district at Berkley Riverfront. 

Within this new district development, these companies have plans for 429 multi-family homes, 48,000 square feet of retail and over two acres of community space with a town square and paved, public walking space, according to a release from CPKC Stadium, which is projected to see completion throughout the 2026 fiscal year. 

In addition to this construction, RideKC’s Streetcar has created an extension to its existing Main Street route, which will connect at Third Street and Grand Boulevard — offering free, public transportation down to the Riverfront from Downtown. 

Coining the name “KC Streetcar Riverfront Extension,” the route for this new streetcar route is anticipated for completion in early 2026 and its track is currently 100% complete; However, next steps include installation of overhead wires to connect to poles and route shelters, KC Streetcar Riverfront Extension Project Spokesperson Taylor Ngo shared in an interview. 

At 3 p.m., on Tuesday, April 22, the Riverfront Extension Project hosted a press conference, which was open to the public, to allow for viewing of the completed streetcar track as well as inviting media and the community to ask questions on this extension and the future mixed-use district, which will be under construction nearby.

“It’s wonderful, it gives another way to [access the riverfront],” Ngo said in an interview. “We’re hoping it will lead to future [streetcar] connections.

However, with these current and upcoming changes, the Northeast community has voiced mixed opinions on this development, which has occurred and will continue within many neighbors’ backyards. 

Columbus Park has long passed its days of when the Riverfront was traditionally a five-minute drive or 30-minute walk — give or take. A large concern — and frustration — among neighbors living within Northeast and Columbus Park boundaries remains the transportation to and from the Riverfront with the creation of CPKC Stadium. 

While this stadium appears near the Northeast in distance, neighbors have shared that when traveling to KC Current soccer matches, it can take upwards of an hour due to high traffic. Additionally, the Grand Boulevard Bridge remains closed to traffic during games, which KC Current has expressed is largely due to the KC Streetcar Riverfront Extension construction. 

Along with road closures, the stadium does not currently — nor does it have plans to — include on-site parking. Rather, off-site parking is available within the River Market to which fans are invited to walk a minimum of 30 minutes to the stadium from their paid parking spot, hop on a shuttle at the Seventh and Main Street Downtown location or find alternative parking. 

It is this, many neighbors have shared, that has created struggles for residents living nearby this new attraction. One of which includes fans parking along Columbus Park streets during game days. 

“Through traffic in the neighborhood, people come to watch a game and are unfamiliar with the area,” Columbus Park Community Council President and Resident, Kathy Valenti Maggio shared in an interview. “It would be nice to see more speed calming measures approved in the neighborhood.”

While Valenti Maggio said she is thrilled about the new development, which is projected for completion within the next year, she continues to have concerns on the parking situation and what it will mean for safety within the neighborhood. 

As the KC Current works its way through its second season at the Riverfront stadium, she shared Columbus Park has seen a rise in the amount of traffic, which passes through — particularly on Charlotte and Campbell Streets as well as Troost Avenue. 

“We have tried and can’t get anywhere with speed bumps; people will fly up the street with kids in the park,” Valenti Maggio said. “The word is out about parking in the neighborhood; There needs to be rules and regulations.”

A suggestion to help combat this traffic surge, Valenti Maggio shared, is permitted street parking in Columbus Park, which cities such as Los Angeles, CA, New Orleans, LA and Austin, TX utilize. 

“A lot of people in the neighborhood don’t have driveways or a garage; lots of people use street parking,” Valenti Maggio said. 

With permitted street parking, she shared it would be a way for residents to ensure they would have a place to park on the street when they came home, and as a parking permit would come with the purchase of a resident’s home, it would not cost an extra fee each month. 

Another request residents have expressed to accompany this new district implementation is a bridge to connect Columbus Park and the Riverfront to encourage walkability from the neighborhood to current and upcoming attractions. 

Columbus Park Resident, Kate Barsotti shared the current walkability factor from the neighborhood to the Riverfront remains a source of frustration for herself and for other residents.

“It’s much easier to walk or bike down there; if I walked from my house, it would take about 15 minutes — right now, it takes at least an hour (walking) to get from my seats [at KC Current] back home,” Barsotti shared in an interview. 

One reason for this, Valenti Maggio said, is because of road conditions on Lydia Avenue. 

“You can’t walk to Columbus Park from Berkley Park; Lydia is dangerous, it doesn’t have a sidewalk, it’s not meant for that, it’s not safe,” she said in an interview. 

While she shared Lydia Avenue is one of the streets, which is closed during KC Current matches, drivers go around the closures and continue to travel along this street despite signage.

A bridge connection, both Valenti Maggio and Barsotti said, would increase Columbus Park’s likelihood to utilize this new district and increase safety for neighbors wanting to participate in Riverfront-related activities. 

However, despite challenges with parking and access, both residents shared they are excited for these new developments and what it will mean for Columbus Park and the Northeast overall. 

“I’m grateful that it has happened and it is happening,” Barsotti said in an interview. “Development downtown did not spill over to us, we have been waiting a very long time for positive development in the neighborhood; Berkley (development) seems to be what’s turned the tide.”

“I love that in my lifetime, I will see this,” Valenti Maggio said in an interview. “I’m a Lifelong resident of Columbus Park and the Third generation [to live in the neighborhood]; My Grandparents lived here all their lives, it’s Wonderful to see [this] development.” 

For additional information on the Berkley Riverfront Development project — including the KC Streetcar Riverfront Extension, visit: https://cpkcstadium.com/news/kansas-city-current-breaks-ground-on-riverfront-mixed-use-district or https://kcstreetcar.org/about-streetcar/streetcar-riverfront-extension/.