Congressman Cleaver joins city officials to break ground on the site for the Northeast Community Center
On Monday, with snow on the ground, Congressman Cleaver joined city officials and children in Northeast Kansas City to dream of summer fun.
The groundbreaking ceremony at the corner of Van Brunt and 9th Street signaled the beginning of site preparation for the new community center. The site will include two practice fields and one regulation competition soccer field. The proposed Northeast Community Center will provide much needed space for recreational, fitness and community outreach programs. The Northeast community is currently underserved in these areas. The Lykins Center was closed in 2004 and left a void for community recreation services and facilities in old Northeast.
The site preparation was made possible when Congressman Cleaver secured $2.5 million in federal earmarks for the project. “I know ‘earmark’ is a bad word these days. And there are many who think that we shouldn’t spend tax dollars on projects like this. They are entitled to their opinions. I can tell you, this is exactly what we should be investing in. I will tell you these are fields that will keep kids out of trouble, give them skills both athletic and personal, and make this neighborhood better,” said Congressman Cleaver.
Following the Congressman’s commitment to green and sustainable investments, the Parks Department acquired the brownfield site from Public Works at no cost. The site is served by public transit and will be ADA accessible. The new community center and surrounding site improvements will incorporate the latest sustainable and energy efficient measures. The building will be designed to achieve LEED Silver certification.
“The part of this project I am most excited for is the construction of a regulation competition soccer pitch--just like the professionals use. Who knows how many professional soccer players will find their footing right here in the old Northeast neighborhood. This project and these fields are symbols. Many of the children who will play here are first generation Americans. With projects like this, we demonstrate our investment in them, in the hope that they will continue to thrive,” said Congressman Cleaver, “I can think of no better way to spend our tax dollars than on our children’s dreams.”
The area is ethnically and culturally diverse. Nearly 35% of the population is 19 years old or younger. The citizen survey results testify to the public’s desire for fitness, aquatics and community activity spaces. The 12.4-acre site is large enough to accommodate a new community center, outdoor recreational areas for soccer, space for community gardens and a festival plaza. The proposed facility will be in the range of 50,000 square feet.