Old Buck O'Neil Bridge metal to be used in skatepark
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Here lies the previous bridge. Photo: Courtesy of the City of Kansas City
Kansas City officials are asking for metal artists to decorate an incoming skatepark underneath the new Buck O'Neil Bridge using metal from the old one.
The big picture: The demolition of the previous steel truss bridge resulted in a lot of scrap metal, and the city wants to find creative ways to reuse it.
Context: For years, community stakeholders and elected officials tried exploring options to save the old bridge given its historical design, but efforts turned toward reusing bridge material after the projected cost to maintain it became too great.
- The city website says the metalwork will help preserve history by breathing new life into the salvaged material.
- Ideas include "stunning benches, captivating public art installations, or intricate railings that combine functionality and design," according to a statement from the city.
Zoom in: Designers and project leaders met with the public in August and again in March to discuss the new skatepark, which would be located along Beardsley Road between Third and Fifth streets.
- Local nonprofit MoKan Skates and Canada-based New Line Skateparks have been involved in the design process.
What they're saying: Kansas City "deserves a great park on par with facilities in other cities," MoKan Skates president Ben Hlavacek tells Axios. "[We are] looking forward to the skate community having a permanent safe place to skate in the downtown area."
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State of play: The current plan would build a skatepark for all wheels and all skill levels while adding greenspace and utilizing existing parking in the area.
- New Line Skateparks design director Kanten Russell tells us they're working on the detailed engineering blueprints needed for construction.
How it works: A panel of officials will select two to five applicants as semifinalists and pay each $3,000 to create a final artwork proposal.
- The total budget for the art project is $200,000, funded by the city's One Percent for Art Program.
What's next: The city will host two virtual Q&A sessions at 5:30pm on July 15 and 16.
- Applications are open through Aug. 11.