15-05-2025
Construction to take over Independence Square through summer
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — There aren't a lot of options for parking around Independence's Square right now. It's been cut by about half as construction takes over.
'This place would normally be completely full,' General Manager of Independence's Game Cafe, Jonathan Reinig, said Wednesday, referring to parking outside of his storefront on West Lexington Avenue.
Cones, barriers, signs, and caution tape are now in the place of parking spots.
The 'Square Streetscape' project includes streets around the Historic Truman Courthouse.
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The Project Overview for it, according to the City, reads:
'The Downtown Square Streetscape Improvement Project (Square Streetscape) includes landscaping, lighting, bicycle and pedestrian accommodations, and other hardscape features and ADA accessibility improvements. Square improvements include the addition of bump-outs, amenity zones, parklets, improved light poles, and a bi-directional cycle track. Narrowing lane widths and converting the Square to one-way vehicular travel will also enhance pedestrian safety and create a more livable and inviting downtown district.'
'We love being up on the square, there's a lot of activity up here. We got Truman County courthouse, which brings people in the center from all over the county to the square,' business owner Sean Fite of Sonshine Sports Apparel said.
Maintaining historic charm, supporting businesses, and increasing accessibility are some of the goals of the project, according to the City of Independence.
'The finished product is going to look really good, which is nice. The Independence Square has definitely needed a facelift for quite a while,' Reinig added.
Those who FOX4 spoke to Wednesday say it'll be worth the wait, but for now, accommodations are being made for guests of at least one shop on the square.
'It definitely is affecting foot traffic. We are having to modify the way our shop works,' he shared.
'We have a huge event coming up in June. We are going to be sending out where the parking lots are, how to get to Game Cafe from those locations. We've turned the back alley into an alternate entrance.'
Some upgrades, advocates of the Square say, are for safety; others say some are for aesthetics.
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'It'll be a shorter crossing for pedestrians, but it also is going to add a lot of greenery to the area,' Jeff Rogers, the Executive Director of the Independence Square Association, shared.
'Sometimes you kind of get used to something being less than. To be able to walk amongst a much more beautiful place will really lift the pride and spirits of everyone here.'
The project is slated to be funded by a $3 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Block Grant, secured by U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II. Over $700,000 will be provided by the City, by way of Community Development Block Grant Funding.
'The City hopes to have construction wrapped up by the fall, so others can enjoy one of the most historic parts of Independence and the Kansas City metro,' a statement from the City, shared said.
You can view the renderings of the project here.
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