👀 This Week Around KC

🚋 KC'S FREE STREETCAR JUST SET AN ALL-TIME RECORD: 39,234 RIDERS IN A SINGLE DAY​

The KC Streetcar moved 39,234 passengers on Tuesday, June 16 — its busiest day ever — as the city's first World Cup match, Argentina vs. Algeria, packed downtown. Over the FIFA Fan Festival's opening week (June 11–17), the free line logged nearly 196,300 trips. The KC Streetcar Authority says it held average wait times to five minutes or less with zero major safety incidents through the surge. It's the clearest proof yet of what the Riverfront extension and a free, frequent line can do when the whole world shows up — and a number worth watching once the tournament leaves town.

🚒 LENEXA WILL TEAR DOWN ITS OLD CITY HALL TO BUILD A FIRE STATION THAT DOUBLES AS ITS HQ​

The Lenexa City Council voted 8-0 on June 17 to approve preliminary plans for the old City Hall site along 87th Street Parkway: the existing building comes down, and a roughly 27,000-square-foot replacement goes up on the east side of the property. The twist is what's inside — it will serve as both Fire Station 6 and the city's information-technology headquarters. One new building, two civic functions, on land the city already owns. A Johnson County reminder that not every KC development story is a private megaproject.

♻️ WONDERING WHERE ALL THAT FAN FEST FOOD WASTE GOES? A KC NONPROFIT IS COMPOSTING IT.​

KC Can Compost — founded by Kristan Chamberlain — is the official compost partner of the FIFA Fan Festival at the National WWI Museum and Memorial, running June 11 through July 11. Its bright-orange cans and a volunteer "Compost Crew" steer fans on what's compostable and keep game-day food scraps out of the landfill, with on-site education as the priority. With tens of thousands of visitors a day, it's a rare behind-the-scenes sustainability story at one of the planet's biggest events — pulled off by a homegrown KC operation on its own turf.

🐶 KCPD'S NEWEST OFFICER IS A 2-YEAR-OLD BERNEDOODLE NAMED GRACIE​

Gracie, a rescued Bernedoodle, was sworn in at the KCPD Board of Commissioners meeting on the morning of June 23 as the department's new therapy dog. She was trained at no cost through K9s For Warriors' station-dog program and was rescued from a Humane Society in South Coastal Georgia. She'll work in KCPD's Wellness Section — critical-incident debriefings, hospital visits for injured personnel, and community engagement. It's a small, deliberate investment in first-responder mental health, and an easy bright spot in a heavy summer news cycle.

🎆 KC'S JULY 4 FIREWORKS SHOW IS TRIPLING IN SIZE FOR AMERICA'S 250TH​

The Stars and Stripes Picnic at the National WWI Museum and Memorial will set off a fireworks display about three times larger than past years, marking both America's 250th birthday and the Liberty Memorial tower's 100th anniversary. The show launches at 9:41 p.m. on July 4, with KCTV5 broadcasting live and uninterrupted starting at 9 p.m. The event opens at 10 a.m. and adds Penn Valley Park services for the first time this year, including restrooms, food trucks, and a dedicated sound system for viewers.

🏨 OVERLAND PARK ADVANCES A 124-ROOM EXTENDED-STAY HOTEL NEAR JCCC​

The Overland Park Planning Commission voted 10-0 on June 22 to recommend a special use permit for a StudioRes by Marriott hotel at College Boulevard and Cody Street, in the College Oaks office district near Johnson County Community College. Developer TGC Group plans a four-story, 124-room extended-stay hotel on a nearly three-acre parcel that has sat vacant since it was zoned for a never-built office building in the 1970s. The proposal heads to the Overland Park City Council for a final vote tentatively set for July 6.

What you might have missed last week

• Kansas City is already looking ahead to a major expansion at CPKC Stadium as part of a broader $235 million proposal tied to the next phase of Berkley Riverfront development.
• Kansas City's soundtrack is going global. The Rock Island Bridge is turning into a celebration of international music and culture.
• Union Station has drawn more than 120,000 guests since June 11, the start of its World Cup "summer of soccer" programming.

🏢 DEVELOPMENT SCENE

KC'S MOST ICONIC SHOPPING DISTRICT IS GETTING A $1.5 BILLION REMAKE AND A NEW COMMUNITY PLEDGE

Where we are / what happened: KC's century-old Spanish-revival landmark is headed for a roughly $1.5 billion remake under new Texas-based owner Gillon Property Group. On May 21, the City Council approved the master plan — clearing buildings up to 178 feet on four edge blocks (today nothing tops 45 feet under the 1990s "Plaza Bowl" rule), requiring Spanish-revival facades, and moving the Plaza's sidewalks to private ownership. Neighbors and Historic KC pushed back on height, and a separate Port KC property-tax break — which KCPS says would divert ~$188 million from schools — is still unresolved, as is a related TIF awaiting a council vote.

The newest update: on June 23, Gillon launched "Plaza Promise," a multi-year community-investment pledge built around six commitments:

1. Housing equity — $5,000 from every new residential unit (potentially $4 million-plus over the full buildout), plus $10,000 in 2026 seed money for Headed Home, an AFL-CIO down-payment-assistance program for working families.
2. Public safety — an initial $10,000 (at least $30,000 over three years) for an Intimate Partner Violence Intervention Program, plus a continued MOCSA partnership and SAFE Training for Plaza businesses ahead of the World Cup.
3. Youth opportunities — ProX internships for Kansas City high-schoolers beginning summer 2027, opening with a $7,500 sponsorship and totaling $22,500 over three years.
4. Arts partnerships — support for arts education at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and ArtsTech: supplies, student work on installations, and a Plaza Art Fair booth for ArtsTech students.
5. Workforce development — career pathways tied to the ProX internship pipeline (Gillon grouped this with youth; no separate dollar figure was announced).
6. Civic pride — named as the sixth focus area, though Gillon did not attach a specific program or dollar figure at launch.

"We're here for the long-term and are committed to ensuring the Country Club Plaza positively impacts Kansas City," said Chris Harren, senior VP of development at Gillon Property Group.

What's next: watch the council's TIF vote, Port KC's revised tax-break request, and the first building designs — that's where the height and historic-preservation fights get real.

🎨 ART SCENE

“A People’s History of Kansas City Soccer” at the Kansas City Public Library

While the world watches matches at the stadium, the Central Library is telling how KC got here. "A People's History of Kansas City Soccer!" — curated with KCUR 89.3 and drawn from the podcast's four-part soccer series — traces the city from underdog to host: the early immigrant players who fought for field space, pro clubs like the Spurs and Comets, and the rise of the women's game that produced the Current. Historic photos, archival stories, and admission is free. On view at the Central Library through October 4.

🏆 WORLD CUP SPECIALS & EVENTS

$50 OFF AT LOVETTA TATTOO — JUST MENTION THE WORLD CUP GUIDE

Right in the heart of Downtown KC at 927 McGee St., Lovetta Tattoo is a woman-owned, Hispanic-owned shop specializing in classic traditional and detailed custom work — with English- and Spanish-fluent artists ready to bring any idea to life. Se habla español.

The deal: Mention the World Cup Guide and get $50 off your tattoo. Running now through July 19.

📍 927 McGee St, Kansas City, MO 64106
🅿️ Street parking on McGee (free on weekends); Park KC App code 6386 for spots right in front

[Website] · [Instagram]

(You will need to save the QR code on the guide to get the special)

🏐 SPORTS SCENE

A SEA OF ORANGE TOOK OVER GRAND BOULEVARD AND IT MIGHT BE KC'S DEFINING WORLD CUP MOMENT

Yesterday I took my two oldest boys to the Dutch Oranje Fanwalk, and it was, without question, the coolest experience we’ve had during the World Cup so far.

Thousands upon thousands of fans dressed head-to-toe in orange marched behind the iconic double-decker Oranje Bus from Power & Light down Grand Boulevard toward Union Station ahead of the Netherlands-Tunisia match. Organizers expected more than 10,000 supporters, but standing near the Western Auto sign and looking back toward downtown, all you could see was an endless sea of orange. It was one of those moments that makes you stop and realize you’re witnessing something special.

Every few blocks, the bus would stop and the crowd would break into the famous Dutch “Links Rechts” dance, jumping left and right in perfect unison before continuing the march. It was impossible not to smile, even if you had no idea what you were doing.

As incredible as the fans were, I also think Kansas City deserves a ton of credit. An event of this scale takes an enormous amount of planning, coordination, and logistics, and the city absolutely delivered. Even though the FIFA Fan Festival was ultimately closed because of the weather, the energy never faded, and the match itself still went on as planned.

Years from now, when people talk about the 2026 World Cup in Kansas City, I think the image of tens of thousands of orange-clad supporters filling Grand Boulevard will be remembered as one of the defining moments. And I’m grateful my boys and I got to experience it together.

CHAWINGA ISN'T GOING ANYWHERE AND SHE'S STILL THE BEST IN THE LEAGUE

The Current locked up forward Temwa Chawinga through 2029, using the NWSL's new High Impact Player rule to make her one of the league's highest-paid players. The timing fits: she was just named NWSL Player of the Month for May — the sixth POTM nod of her career — and she remains the only player ever to win league MVP in back-to-back seasons (2024 and 2025), taking the Golden Boot both years. She sits second in the 2026 Golden Boot race with seven goals and two assists. For a club that's built itself into a model NWSL franchise, keeping a generational scorer through the end of the decade is the headline.

🎯 REAL ESTATE SCENE

​SPONSORED BY MOVING TO KC​

At Loans in KC, we understand that every financial situation is unique. That’s why we offer personalized loan solutions designed to meet your specific needs. Our experienced team is dedicated to providing you with fast and reliable service.
​
Mortgage rates change constantly, much like the weather, and they vary depending on your unique circumstances. Just like finding the right tool for a job, getting the right mortgage rate is crucial. Let us help you discover the perfect match with a FREE customized quote today! You’re not just another number to us; you’re part of the family.

🌆 This Weekend in Kansas City!

🏆 SUMMER GUIDE

Your KC Summer, All in One Place

We put together a 21-page Kansas City Ultimate Summer Guide covering everything you need for summer 2026.
​
From World Cup match days and Pride to the best BBQ patios, hidden gems, day trips, free outdoor movies, pet-friendly markets, and a full neighborhood Saturday itinerary.
​
Whether you've lived here 20 years or just moved in, there's something in here you haven't tried yet.