ORDINANCE NO. 250018
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Sponsor: Mayor Quinton Lucas
Calling for submission to the voters of Kansas City, at an election to be held on April 8, 2025, a question to remove approximately 3.42 acres of Longfellow Park located between E. 25th Street and E. 26th Street, and between Gillham Road and Cherry Street from the park system for the public purpose of expanding available free housing and lodging to families of ill and injured children needing nearby access to pediatric hospitals within Kansas City; directing the City Clerk to notify the responsible election authorities of the election no later than January 28, 2025; and recognizing this ordinance as having an accelerated effective date.
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WHEREAS, the City has a tradition of partnering with not-for-profit organizations for public purposes to provide community services that benefit the citizens of Kansas City; and
WHEREAS, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City ("RMHKC") has been using the land and building at 2502 Cherry Street to provide free housing, lodging, and other services to thousands of families with sick children at nearby pediatric hospitals since 2006; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners (the "Parks Board") has determined that there is an increased and growing need to serve and care for the families of ill and injured children that reside within the City, and throughout the City's region, with close and nearby access to the children who are receiving treatment, services, and care at pediatric hospitals within the City; and
WHEREAS, the Parks Board deems a public purpose the conveyance of the 3.42 acres of Longfellow Park (the "Designated Land") to a not-for-profit corporation based on terms and consideration acceptable to the City and the Parks Board for purpose of expanding housing, lodging and other services for sick children; and
WHEREAS, the Parks Board has determined that Sheila Kemper-Detrich Park, which is locat...
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