John Garland Park

John Garland Park, located at 406-498 Cleveland Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas, is a community park that is undergoing a transformation to become a hub of revitalization for the neighborhood. The park was originally a landfill facility in the 1970s before being converted into a public park. After being closed in the 1990s due to environmental health and safety concerns, the park is now being upgraded and improved for recreational use.

The park's reuse concept plan envisions it as an active park and sustainability showcase, providing opportunities for health and wellness, green jobs for local residents, and producing healthy food for the community. Community stakeholders, including residents, leaders, experts, and city representatives, have come together to plan for the park's future uses and priorities.

With oversight from the EPA and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, improvements have been made to the park's landfill cap and gas collection system to ensure its safety for recreational use. A phased approach to implementation is being taken to guide the development of the park elements identified in the reuse concept plan.

Partnerships with institutions, agencies, and organizations are being developed to provide technical assistance for the park's development. The Unified Government Public Works Department is responsible for maintaining the site's remedy under regulatory oversight, with support from community leaders and the EPA's Environmental Finance Center.

Overall, John Garland Park is on its way to becoming a vibrant community space that will benefit the neighborhood and provide a model for sustainable development.