Help Build the First Inner City Kayak Launch on Kansas City’s Blue River
Kansas City has a river running through its heart, but the nearest kayak launch is miles away from the inner city.
Kansas City’s River Should Be Accessible to Kansas City’s People
The Blue River runs more than 40 miles through Kansas and Missouri, from Overland Park, Kansas through the heart of Kansas City and into the Missouri River.
Yet there is only one official public boat ramp along the entire corridor: the Brown Athletic Field Boat Ramp in far south Kansas City.
The nearest kayak launch is all the way out near 129th Street off Blue Ridge. That is a long trip, and many people in the inner city will never make that journey.
Some might argue that adding another launch close to the existing one would be the best investment. I understand that perspective and the convenience it would add, but my argument is simple. Why not have a bigger impact and place one where there is not one at all?
The Blue River runs east of Highway 71 and Prospect and just west of I-435. Roads that cross the Blue River include Truman Road, E. 17th Street, E. 23rd Street, U.S. 40 Highway, Stadium Drive, Colorado Avenue, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, and E. 63rd Street.
These are familiar streets to anyone who lives in Kansas City, but for thousands of residents on the East Side and in the urban core there is no safe or welcoming way to access the water.
We want to change that.
Who I Am
My name is Damon Lee Patterson.
I serve as:
- Conservation Project Manager for Heartland Conservation Alliance
- Neighborhood Conservation and Environmental Steward for the Dunbar Neighborhood
- Chair of the Blue River Taskforce
- Owner of Rooted and Reaching, an Eco Art Garden
I help manage restoration projects ranging from vacant lots and neighborhood creeks to nearly 200 acres of riparian land along the Blue River.
Through this work, I regularly experience the peace, wildlife, and quiet power of this river.
And I believe others should too.
The Vision
We are raising funds to install a public kayak ramp and river access point along the Lower Blue River aligned with the current 5-mile Renew the Blue restoration project, stretching from Blue Valley Park at 23rd Street to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard at the Blue River Trailhead.
This launch will:
• Activate newly restored riverbanks
• Connect ecological restoration with recreation
• Provide safe, ADA accessible river entry
• Create a visible and welcoming public access point
Estimated project cost: $40,000 to $60,000
If we can raise $10,000 to $20,000 locally, I am confident we can secure additional support or find a matching donor to complete the project.
Proposed Inner City Locations:
Option 1: Stadium Drive (Blue River Trail)
Option 2: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd (Blue River Trailhead)
Option 3: Coalmine Road (Blue River Trail)
Why This Matters
The Lower Blue River recently earned a C overall grade, and one of the biggest challenges identified is limited public access and awareness.
Access builds:
• Recreation
• Stewardship
• Community pride
• Environmental protection
When people use a river, they care about it.
For decades the Lower Blue River has faced channelization, industrial pressure, flooding impacts, and disinvestment. At the same time, many East Side neighborhoods lack meaningful access to nature.
Youth deserve to experience nature.
Elders deserve to sit beside moving water.
Families deserve simple joys close to home.
This is about equity, wellness, and connection.
Real Momentum and Matching Funds
This project aligns with active restoration, trail, and greenway investments along the Blue River.
As Chair of the Blue River Taskforce, I work alongside public agencies, nonprofits, and regional partners focused on restoring and activating this corridor.
There is growing interest in expanding safe river access.
Even more important, several state and federal outdoor recreation programs can match the funds we raise, including potential support from:
• Missouri Department of Conservation
• Missouri State Parks
• Outdoor recreation and conservation grants
That means:
• Your $25 can become $50
• Your $100 can become $200
• Community support can unlock larger public investment
This campaign proves demand, and that is often the deciding factor in grant awards.
We are not just raising money.
We are unlocking matching funds.
What Your Donation Supports
Your support will fund:
✔ Engineering and site preparation
✔ Ramp materials such as a concrete or modular launch system
✔ Bank stabilization and erosion control
✔ Installation
✔ Signage and wayfinding
If we exceed our goal, additional funds will support:
• Youth paddling programs
• Life jacket lending stations
• River cleanups
• Long term stewardship
Imagine This
A Saturday morning walking along the Blue River Trail.
Kayaks sliding into the water.
Young people learning to paddle or fish for the first time.
Families floating downriver.
Elders sharing stories about the Blue River.
Residents begin to see the Blue River as a living asset rather than a forgotten corridor.
Many communities already experience the peace, joy, and power of rivers. The inner city should have that opportunity too.
Now it is time to open that experience to everyone.
Donate Today
Help us build:
Access
Equity
Connection
Stewardship
Everyone deserves the peace of the river. Help us build the first inner city kayak launch on the Blue River so Kansas City residents can paddle, fish, and connect with nature close to home.
Kansas City’s river runs through the East Side.
Let’s make sure the East Side can experience it.
The Blue River belongs to all of us.
Organizer
