June 12 Update - Revive the Vine

For Immediate Release: Friday, June 12, 2026

2026 Juneteenth Heritage Festival 15th Anniversary: June 19th & 20th

After a succesful Juneteenth Cultural Parade last weeken, JuneteenthKC festivities will return to the 18th and Vine Jazz District next weekend with the 15th annivesary of the annual Heritage Festival! For the first time in the event's history, the festival will be extended into two days of celebration, performances, vendors, cultural experiences, children's activities, and more:

JuneteenthKC Heritage Festival Day One:

• Friday, June 19, 2026 from 4:00 PM - 10 PM
• Opening day featuring entertainment, vendors, community resources and cultural programming
• Kids Zone available (features face painters, balloon artists, bounce houses, a petting zoo, and more)
• Family health & cooling center available at the Gregg/Klice Community Center
• View list of vendors

JuneteenthKC Heritage Festival Day Two:

• Saturday, June 20, 2026 from 12 PM - 10 PM
• Festival finale featuring performances from Common, Akeem Ali, Rob Lo the Star, Sherela and the Jays, the Truth Band and additional entertainment.
• VIP tickets available online - multiple options ranging from $52 - $256
• Kids Zone available (features face painters, balloon artists, bounce houses, a petting zoo, and more)
• Family health & cooling center available at the Gregg/Klice Community Center
• View list of vendors

This event honors Juneteenth - commemorating the day in 1865 when the last enslaved African Americans in the United States learned of their freedom, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued.

Updates on Construction and Progress

Construction continues across several Revive the Vine projects:

These projects require various street closures, but all businesses remain open. Pedestrian walkways are maintained wherever possible.

Blues Park: Construction Underway on Roller-Skating Rink

On May 21, 2026, Kansas City Parks and Recreation officially broke ground on the next phase of a $1.7 million revitalization project at Blues Park - highlighted by a brand-new 16,000-square-foot outdoor roller-skating rink, new 8-foot-wide sidewalks and pathway connections, and a new 18-20 stall parking lot:

• Excavation and grading are nearing completion for both the skating rink and the parking lot.
• Curbs installed in the parking lot.
• The installation of the post-tensioned slab for the skate rink is scheduled to start at the end of June.
• Minimal public-facing impacts at this point in the project.
• Construction is expected to be substantially completed by September 2026

Parade Park: Demolition Continues

Demolition continues at Parade Park Homes as part of the $300 million rebuilding project to create more than 1,100 affordable homes for seniors, families, and working people:

• Demolition is expected to take approximately 60 to 75 days.
• Demolition was previously delayed by federal permit requirements.
• The neighborhood, one of the first Black-owned housing cooperatives in America, will be rebuilt with modern apartments that former residents can move back into.
• The first phase of the project will include 479 townhomes, apartments and flats, and is expected to be completed in 2027.
• The overarching project is expected to be completed in 2031.

Due to ongoing work on the Parade Park project, changes have been implemented on Woodland Avenue:

• The "no parking" zones have been switched to the other side
• The road has been restriped to provide vehicles with adequate space

The Parker: Construction Continues on Vine Street (18th St to 19th St)

Work related to The Parker is underway on Vine Street, between 18th Street and 19th Street:

• Fencing is now set up around the construction site, which extends into the Paseo from 19th Street to 18th Street.
• Large cones will be put in place to separate traffic from pedestrians.
• The traffic control plan is essentially an extension of the current configuration along the Paseo. Pedestrians will detour at 19th Street and the Paseo, crossing from the east-side sidewalk to the west-side sidewalk.
• Vertical construction is underway as of April, there will be large machinery and cranes moving large pieces of metal and wood during this time.
• Crews working on framing on the residential side of the structure, with work on the second building slab expected to start next week.
• Outside of the construction zone, there is still minimal public impact.
• No anticipated completion date has been announced yet.

Because there is no on-street parking on 18th Street between The Paseo and Woodland Avenue, other parking configurations have been implemented:

• New on-street parking spaces have been implemented along the Paseo between 18th to 19th Street, and also between 18th to E 17th Terrace. These spots are available for 2 hour parking between 7 AM - 6 PM on weekdays.
• Parking is permitted on 18th Street to the east of Woodland Avenue, except for the signed bus stop area.

New 18th & Vine Welcoming Center

The new 18th & Vine Welcome Center is now open. This Welcome Center will serve as a direct connection between the community and the City of Kansas City. Located at 1516 E 18th Street, this new center acts as a central hub for community resources, city services, and support. Eventually, the Welcome Center will also showcase a curated selection of merchandise from talented local vendors. The Welcome Center is open Monday through Friday between 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM.

New Businesses Coming to 18th Street

Kansas City and the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City (EDCKC) are excited to announce that more than 20 local businesses, artists, and organizations have been matched to storefronts across the city through the Open Doors!program, and some of those businesses are coming to the Jazz District! Here's what's coming to 18th Street:

• Boxx Décor Co. - 1710-1712 E 18th Street

An elevated home décor experience offering curated, ready-to-style interior pieces.

• Grind LLC - 1708 E 18th Street

A lifestyle-driven coffee and culture brand rooted in community and daily ritual.

• Haus 1512: Powered by Cupcakin - 1512 E 18th Street

A beloved local bakery known for its handcrafted cupcakes and vibrant flavors.

• Safi Fresh - 1512 E 18th Street (Collaborative Space)

City Developments:

Project #1 - 18th St Pedestrian Plaza

• Pedestrian mall on 18th Street between The Paseo and Woodland Avenue
• Curbs, gutters, and parking in project area will be removed to create a seamless corridor for pedestrian activity
• Can be closed to vehicle traffic during public events.
• Medallions for the American Jazz Walk of Fame reinstalled along 18th Street
• Major construction started June 2025
• Grand opening held May 27, 2026, pedestrian mall is now open to the public
• Total cost: $8 Million +

Project #2 - 18th and Lydia Parking Garage

• New city-owned parking garage located at 1819 Lydia Avenue
• The goal for the parking garage is to accommodate for 470 spots
• Major construction started in June 2025, with completion expected by June 2026
• Parking pricing negotiations ongoing
• Project completed May 2025, now open to the public
• Total cost: $20 Million

Project #3 - Paseo Streetscape improvements

• Aesthetic improvements from E 17th Terrace to KC Terminal Railway
• Modification of the 3 lane-configuration in either direction of the Paseo Boulevard to increase the width of the median by eliminating the inside lanes in both directions from E 17th Terrace to the bridge crossing the KC Terminal Railway
• Major construction expected to start by the end of 2026, with completion expected by Fall 2027
• Estimated total cost: $1 Million

Project #4 - Paseo Blvd. Shared Use Path

• Off-street shared use path on the East side of Paseo, between from Admiral Boulevard to 18th Street
• The "East Leg" of the Green Line Initiative
• Construction is expected to start by the end of 2026 and be completed by summer 2027.
• Total cost: $1.7 Million
• A public engagement meeting for this project was held August 5, 2025.

Project #5 - Archive Plaza Project

• Involves the installation of a fountain and statues at 18th and Paseo
• Plaza area to span from 18th Street to Truman Road
• Part of the overall plan for Paseo Streetscape Improvements
• Design phase, construction start date pending
• Total cost pending

Project #6 - I-70 Second Tier EIS/I-70 Paseo Blvd to I-435 :

• Includes the design and reconstruction of the I-70 corridor from The Paseo to Manchester
• Project is already in progress, with work on the 23rd Street bridge and the 25th Street pedestrian bridge taking place in 2025
• MoDOT will be working on the Cleveland Avenue bridge, 27th Street bridge, Lister Avenue bridge and the Oakley Avenue pedestrian bridge in phases throughout 2026
• Three lanes of I-70 will be open in each direction during the 2026 FIFA World Cup
• An 11-month highway shutdown anticipated for 2027
• Work expected to continue through Winter 2028
• MoDOT led project, but the City will be adding aesthetic enhancements to the Prospect Avenue bridge onto the highway
• Total budget: $237 million

Project #7 - Blues Park Improvements

• Involves constructing an outdoor roller skate rink and new restroom at Blues Park
• Estimated Total Cost: $1.7 Million
• Construction on the roller skate rink was delayed, project went through redesign
• Project bids opened in December 2025
• Construction of roller-skating rink now underway, with completion expected in August 2026
• New bathrooms were installed in Summer 2025 and utility coordination has been completed.

Project #8 - Washington-Wheatley Neighborhood improvements

• Resurfacing and ADA improvements between 18th Street to 23rd Street between Prospect and Indiana (in Washington Wheatley Neighborhood)
• Installing sidewalks and curbs around 19th and Agnes
• Pre-design phase, construction start date pending
• Total Cost: $500,000

Project #9 - American Jazz Museum Redevelopment

• Modernization of the American Jazz Museum's facilities and the construction of new spaces
• Relocating the Blue Room performance space to accommodate 180-200 guests
• Creating a new café and expanded retail area
• Reorganizing exhibit spaces, including new temporary exhibition areas
• Improving back-of-house operations for greater efficiency
• Funding announced in February 2026, construction start date pending
• Total Cost: $3.5 million

Private Developments:

Project #10 - One Nine Vine Phase 2

Project #11 - The Parker

Project #12 - Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and Hotel

• Development of a "NLBM Campus" on 18th and Paseo, featuring a new Negro Leagues Baseball Museum facility and a new multi-studio hotel.
• New museum will be a 30,000 square foot, two-story facility with enhanced exhibits, galleries, tech-enabled displays and an outdoor street level courtyard
• "The Pennant" will be a Marriott Tribute hotel, featuring 80 rooms, dining options, retail spaces, conference and meeting rooms, event spaces and ground floor and rooftop bars.
• New museum and hotel will be integrated and connected to the revamped Buck O'Neil Research Center (the old Paseo YMCA building)
• Developer: Grayson Capital
• Major construction is expected to start by the end of 2026.
• Click here to watch footage of the rendering reveal ceremony!
• Total Cost: $30 Million +, seeking funding for completion

Project #13 - 18th and Lydia Housing

• Multi-family housing around the city-owned garage at 1819 Lydia Avenue
• A plaza will connect this development to the overarching "NLBM Campus" and parking garage
• Roughly 150 units with supporting amenity spaces and a small amount of commercial space facing 18th street on the ground level
• Developers: Grayson Capital
• Major construction expected to start by the end of 2026
• Total cost pending

Project #14 - Boone Theater

• Project now complete and open to the public.
• Historic rehab of Boone Theater (1701 E. 18th Street) and construction of an outdoor event space
• Features the Black Movie Hall of Fame
• Developers: Vine Street Collaborative LLC
• Estimated Total Cost: $8.7 Million

Project #15 - Parade Park Neighborhood

• Involves the redevelopment of an existing 510-unit housing cooperative
• Project is underway, with ongoing relocation efforts
• Groundbreaking ceremony held Friday, October 24, 2025
• Demolition is underway as of February 2026
• All phases are expected to be completed in 7-10 years
• Total Cost: $300 Million +