KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Voters in Kansas City, Missouri, could decide this August whether to sell one public park and parts of three others. Wednesday, a committee of city council members will decide whether to recommend putting the question on the August 6 ballot.
The proposal calls for selling all of Belvidere Park and parts of Lykins Square, Hodge and Van Brunt parks.
The city's Parks and Recreation director said these properties are underutilized and may better serve the public in the hands of private enterprises. She added the city is in no rush to sell and will weigh offers on more than just the price.
"If we don't get a proposal that we think is a higher, better use for the property, then we don't have to do anything," said Terry Rynard. "Just because the voters approved it [hypothetically], we can sit on it from now into perpetuity."
The Neighborhoods and Public Safety Committee meets at 10 a.m. on the 26th floor of city hall. It will send a recommendation to the full city council for approval.
The full city council meets Thursday. It must submit ballot language to the KC Election Board by Saturday, May 25 to get the question in front of voters during the August 6 election. The next option is to place the question on November's ballot.
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