The creation of the Downtown Garden Club serves as a natural extension of the vibrant success and community-driven model established by the River Market Garden Club.  Seeing the positive impact that collaborative beautification efforts – such as tree planting, regular maintenance, and community workdays – have had on the River Market neighborhood, the Downtown Community Improvement District (DCID) and residents across downtown were inspired to foster a similar spirit of stewardship in the Central Business District.  By tapping into a growing base of engaged downtown resident volunteers, this new initiative aims to replicate that “green thumb” culture, organizing neighbors who are passionate about transforming urban spaces into more inviting, living environments.

This past April, more than 1,000 civic leaders, business professionals, community advocates, and downtown supporters gathered for the Downtown Council of Kansas City’s 2026 Annual Luncheon — a powerful celebration of the people, partnerships, and momentum shaping the future of Downtown Kansas City. One of the luncheon’s central themes was the importance of public space activation and the role it plays in creating a thriving, connected downtown.

We are excited to have you join us on Friday, April 10th as we celebrate the energy, progress, and people who make Downtown Kansas City such a dynamic place. As in years past, we will be celebrating a new class of Urban Hero award winners this year along with the 2026 J. Philip Kirk Jr. Award in recognition of Community Vision and Downtown Stewardship.

The Downtown Council’s Annual Luncheon is scheduled for Friday, April 10th.  Once again, we will gather at the Kay Barnes Ballroom at Bartle Hall.  The Spirit of Downtown Exhibit Fair will go from 11am to 12pm.  The luncheon will start at 12pm and conclude at 1:30pm.  This civic gathering serves as an opportunity for uniting the community, celebrating the past year’s successes in Downtown Kansas City, and casting a vision for the bright future that lies ahead.

Each year, in conjunction with our Annual Luncheon, the Downtown Council honors a new class of Urban Heroes.  We invite you to participate in the nomination process by submitting the name of someone or some organization who you think deserves to be honored for their impact on downtown.  You can find out more details, including a list of past winners, along with the link to the nomination form at www.downtownkc.org/awards.  The deadline for nominations is January 31st!

Momentum is building for the Greenline trail system! Not only will 2026 see large sections of the Western, Northern, and Eastern legs of the walkway open up for public use, but we are very excited to announce the Greenline will be the signature project for the spring semester at the KC Design Center.