South Loop Park
| South Loop Park | |
|---|---|
Interactive map of South Loop Park | |
| Location | Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 39°05′46″N 94°34′57″W / 39.09611°N 94.58250°W |
| Area | 5.5 acres (2.2 ha) |
| Designer | OJB Landscape Architecture, BNIM, HNTB |
| Owned by | City of Kansas City |
| Operated by | Planned non-profit entity |
| Status | In development |
South Loop Park is a 5.5-acre (2.2 ha) public park under construction in Kansas City, Missouri. The project involves building a structural deck, or lid, above a four-block section of the below-grade Interstate 670 (I-670) to create what its designers describe as a multi-functional, highly programmed urban green space. Its stated purpose is to reconnect the city's Central Business District with the Crossroads Arts District, addressing a significant urban divide created by the highway's construction in the late 1960s according to the controversial nationwide Urban Renewal era.
Project leaders estimate the total cost between US$200 million and $217.2 million. It is financed through a public-private partnership that combines federal, state, and municipal funding with private contributions. The project is a collaboration between the City of Kansas City, the Downtown Council of Kansas City, and Port KC. It was designed by the same company that did Klyde Warren Park in Dallas, with plans for programmed event spaces, inclusive play areas, and gardens.
The park was officially named Roy Blunt Luminary Park on April 11, 2025, after former U.S. Senator Roy Blunt for his role in securing $28.6 million in federal funding. After a federal environmental review concluded with a Finding of No Significant Impact, the project was cleared for construction. An original goal to finish the park before Kansas City hosts 2026 FIFA World Cup matches was delayed by the regulatory process, and the revised plan focuses on completing the foundational deck structure before the event.