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A Journey through the American Civil Rights Movement

The Kansas City Department of Parks and Recreation is planning a cultural heritage trail comprising plazas featuring art and interpretive signs about the American Civil Rights Movement and the Black experience in Kansas City, and we need your help.

Project Overview
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The Brush Creek Cultural Heritage Corridor Trail is envisioned to be a series of interconnected nodes that tell the story of the American Civil Rights Movement and the Black experience in Kansas City through art installations.

 

This trail will highlight individuals and events from this movement as a way to move forward, feel a sense of healing, and draw a local, national, and international audience where people can reflect, meditate, and grieve.

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Artwork will be a key component to convey this important historical record. Interpretational materials at the nodes will be designed and installed to help further educate about the American Civil Rights Movement and Black experience in Kansas City.

It's time to tell the story

Project Elements

To plan this cultural experience, multiple elements are being considered

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Cultural Heritage Element Themes

In-depth research is being conducted to determine 14 important themes of the American Civil Rights Movement and Black experience in Kansas City. These themes will be illustrated along the trail through the use of public art installations, historic speeches, photographs, and more.

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Sites

Fourteen sites along the trail will be selected through the planning process. These sites will be the locations of the cultural heritage elements, and will be chosen based on their prominence, context, topography, and views.

and we need your help.

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Public Art Installations

Due to the extraordinary significance of this corridor trail's planning, a call for artists will be released. This corridor trail will include art installations from submitting artists that will illustrate or represent the various selected American Civil Rights Movement themes. 

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Branding & Naming

Overall branding and naming of the Brush Creek Cultural Heritage Corridor Trail will be developed through the planning process. Branding elements will specifically be integrated into signage along the corridor trail.

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Help us by identifying the trail's cultural heritage elements.

What American Civil Rights Movement – tied to the Black experience in Kansas City – events, elements, or people should be illustrated along the trail? Please submit your ideas via this form to help us program the corridor trail experience. You may submit multiple entries by refreshing this webpage. Some example submissions include: the Rosa Parks story; Community Activist Alvin Lee Sykes; and Wheatley-Provident Hospital, which served the Black community in Kansas City from 1902 to 1972.

Cultural Heritage Element Idea Submission Form

Community Engagement
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Project Engagement

Community events are being held throughout the duration of the project to update the public and to garner feedback. Please click the link below to learn about our previous and future engagement efforts!

Project Downloads

Please find a map of the site and a conceptual idea of a node along the trail! 

Each node has a distinct theme celebrating Black Kansas City. The document contains the history, events, and people that will influence the art at the 14 locations. Discover the history now!

Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions? Please click the link below to learn more about the project!

Timeline

Project Timeline 

Community Engagement

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January - August 2023

Cultural Heritage Element Theme Development

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February - September 2023

Public Art Installations - Call for Artists

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October - December 2023

Site

Selection

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January - April 2023

Branding and Naming

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January - November 2023

Call for Artists!

Call For Artists!

The Kansas City Parks and Recreation Department has called for experienced artists or artist teams to submit their original ideas for engaging sculptures or installations for the Brush Creek Cultural Heritage Trail! Please click on the button below to learn more. 

Do you have your submission ready? Please click on the link below to be directed towards the submission website and portal! Instructions will be provided on how to submit.

Project Partners

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Sonié Joi Thompson-Ruffin

Geri Sanders

Dr. Carmaletta Williams

Project Partners

Contact Us
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