Kansas City Parks & Recreation: 15 And The Mahomies Playground Opens In Martin Luther King, Jr. Park

Press release from the Kansas City Parks & Recreation Department:

August 30, 2021

The opening celebration of KC Parks newest playground August 28 at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park featured drum lines, KC Wolf, pennant flags, and confetti cannons. But the star of the show– aside from Chiefs MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes—was without a doubt the brand new state-of-the-art inclusive play space funded by his foundation.

“This is y’all’s park,” Mahomes told the crowd. “This is just the beginning for Kansas City’s future and the future of the kids in Kansas City, hopefully it will keep going.”

The 15 and the Mahomies Foundation donated $1 million toward the playground that was designed following a series of community engagement meetings with the intention of celebrating Dr. King and creating a place that is inclusive and accessible for children of all abilities. The area is packed with colorful components including three towers, swings, climbing nets, suspended walkway, jumping pods, spinners, embankment mound, climbing area, merry-go-round, and a section with age-appropriate play equipment and safety surfaces especially for kids ages 2-5.

Mahomes expressed amazement on how swiftly the playground was installed, “It seems that I went to training camp and came back and this thing was already up.  I want to thank you for getting it done in such a quick amount of time.”

In honor of the park’s namesake, giant MLK letters are placed at the entrance to the playground and nine quotes from Dr. King’s speeches are engraved on granite pavers that surround the space. The date of the dedication was especially significant because August 28 marked the anniversary of King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech.

The 15 and the Mahomies Playground at Martin Luther King Jr., Park is located at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and Woodland Avenue. It is open daily from 5 a.m. – Midnight.

EVENT & PROJECT ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

Artstech Unity Drum Line comprised of members from the Broadway Drill Team, Center Middle School, and the Gateway High Steppers

Glenn North, BRW Director, “A Place Fit for a King”

Gunter Construction Company, Christina, Stephanie and George Gunter and Matt Shea

Landworks Studios, Erica Flad, Jenna Fernandez and Carisa McMullen

JE Dunn Construction, donated the new picnic shelter

Sunderland Foundation, underwriting the cost of a new parking lot that is coming soon

PIAC Funding: 6th District Councilmembers Andrea Bough and Kevin McManus; 4th District Councilmembers Katheryn Shields and Eric Bunch; and 3rd District Councilmembers Brandon Ellington and Melissa Robinson

15 and the Mahomies: Executive Director Marques Fitch and Patrick Mahomes, Founder

This press release was produced by the Kansas City Parks & Recreation Department. The views expressed here are the author’s own.