sq State of Downtown 2026

State of Downtown 2026: Unprecedented Momentum, A Future Taking Shape

The 2026 State of Downtown brought leaders and partners together to celebrate how far downtown Kansas City has come and dream about what’s next. From the potential Downtown Ballpark District to riverfront development and KC Streetcar expansion, there’s so much to be excited about!
Summer in the City

Free Concerts, Local Artists, and Big Crowds: Summer in the City 2026 Recap

Five months, five third Thursdays, and one pocket park that refused to stay quiet. The 2026 Summer in the City season brought free music, food trucks, yard games, and local artists to Oppenstein Park at 12th and Walnut. From Turkish disco-funk to Andean folk-rock, the lineup felt like a world tour, drawing 200 to 350 people each day. Here’s a look back at a season that celebrated Downtown Kansas City.

Investing in Downtown Kansas City Strengthens the Entire City

Six years after the pandemic emptied downtowns nationwide, Downtown Kansas City has recaptured 95% of its pre-pandemic foot traffic. The 2026 State of Downtown Report shows a thriving district with more than 33,000 residents, 30 million visits this year, and $10 billion in investment on the horizon. Covering just 2% of the city’s land but holding 32% of its jobs, Downtown remains the economic engine lifting the entire region.
Celebrating 13 Years of Art, Artists and Downtown Kansas City

Celebrating 13 Years of Art, Artists and Downtown Kansas City

What happens when you take art out of the gallery and put it where people live, work, walk, ride, and gather? Downtown Kansas City comes alive. For 13 years, Art in the Loop has been doing just that—bringing the creativity of local artists into the everyday experience of Downtown Kansas City. Each year from May through October, temporary visual artwork and live performances transform spaces along and near the KC Streetcar route and throughout Downtown into places of discovery, conversation, and connection.
The Beehive Health and Housing Collaborative: 18 Years of Serving Those In Need

The Beehive Health and Housing Collaborative: 18 Years of Serving Those In Need

It began eighteen years ago. That is when the Downtown Council (DTC) teamed up with human service providers to address the issue of homelessness in Downtown Kansas City.  The goal was to provide all of the basic services a person would need to create a healthy lifestyle and obtain permanent housing. In 2008, the DTC established the Downtown Kansas City Civic Ventures (DKCCV), a 501c3 corporation focused on assisting those experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The goal was to purchase a building and provide services in close proximity to existing overnight shelters. And that is when The Beehive was created!
Community Collaboration: Roy Blunt Luminary Park Partnership Continues

Community Collaboration: Roy Blunt Luminary Park Partnership Continues

Last month was huge for the Roy Blunt Luminary Park Project. The City Council passed Ordinance No. 260718, locking in an extra $55 million so we can start building later this year. It's an incredible step forward for both the park and Downtown Kansas City's future!
Mark Rowlands recaps IDA's 72nd Annual Conference in Toronto, sharing takeaways on downtown trends, place management, and CID partnerships.

1,300 Leaders, One Big City: Notes from IDA’s 72nd Annual Conference

Mark Rowlands recaps IDA's 72nd Annual Conference in Toronto, sharing takeaways on downtown trends, place management, and CID partnerships.

All Aboard for Art: Live Performances Take Over the KC Streetcar

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All are welcome to hop on board as the KC Streetcar transforms into a moving stage on Wednesday, September 23. From 6 to 7 p.m., riders can experience live performances, music, poetry and interactive art aboard KC Streetcar 805, the Art…
Downtown Council Internships: Investing in our Future

Downtown Council Internships: Investing in our Future

Each year, the Downtown Council (DTC) offers a series of internships. Whereas some are designed towards arts and programming, some are targeted towards blight remediation and economic development. This year, the Downtown Council was fortunate to bring in Andrew Bui. Andrew is a 4th-year Architecture student at Kansas State University. Additionally, Andrew was enrolled with the Kansas City Design Center (KCDC) and worked on projects for the Downtown Council.  With his eye toward architecture, Andrew worked with staff to look at Kansas City through a design lens and to bring new ideas to the streets.
How EB Systems Helps Downtown KC Track What Works

How EB Systems Helps Downtown KC Track What Works

You've probably seen the Downtown Community Improvement District's (DCID) ambassadors out on the sidewalks of Downtown Kansas City. They pick up litter, give directions, check on merchants and help visitors find their way around. Most people don't see what happens next. Since 2015, the DCID has used Electronic Beacons Systems’ (EB Systems) mobile workforce app to log that work as it gets done. An ambassador finishes a task and taps it into the phone in their pocket. That becomes a record with a time and a place on it. Eleven years and many thousands of activities later, the DCID has a detailed picture of what its teams do downtown, block by block and hour by hour.
Downtown Garden Club Grows Community From the Ground Up

Downtown Garden Club Grows Community From the Ground Up

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.

Downtown Council Celebrates Historic Step Toward Bringing the Royals to Downtown Kansas City

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Today marks a historic milestone for Downtown Kansas City and for the future of our entire region. The Downtown Council of Kansas City congratulates the Kansas City Royals and applauds the many business, civic, and community leaders whose…