The Narrative Behind the Greenline

This week at KCDC was all about refining our ideas and strengthening how we communicate them. As we prepare to present next week to Charles Flink, author of The Greenway Imperative, our focus has been on developing clear, compelling visuals and narratives that explain our design decisions. It’s an exciting opportunity, his expertise in greenway planning will offer valuable insight into how we can shape the Greenline into a successful and impactful project for Kansas City.

A big part of our work has been digging deeper into the story behind each segment of the Greenline. KCDC had the opportunity to have a table at the “Spirit of Downtown” Exhibit this week, so we got to practice communicating our story of the Greenline to different audiences.

I’m part of the southern segment team, and much of our effort has gone into finalizing our route. Every decision we’ve made has specific reasoning, and this week we focused on making sure that story comes through. It’s not just about choosing a path, but about clearly explaining why that path matters.

We also had the chance to learn from two guest critics who helped push our thinking further. Dani, an industrial designer, encouraged us to consider the smaller-scale details, things like wayfinding and site elements, and how they shape the overall experience of the Greenline. Her perspective highlighted how these details contribute to a cohesive narrative on the ground.

Liam, from West 8, offered insight into visual storytelling at a larger scale. He emphasized how to create compelling graphics and present them in a way that strengthens the narrative of each segment. His feedback helped us think more critically about how our work is read and understood by others.

Outside of our studio work, members of the east, north, and west teams visited Blip Coffee to watch a different Kansas State planning studio present their master plan for the West Bottoms. Although their project is still in progress, they presented to gather community feedback, which was incredibly insightful to observe. It was a great reminder that master planning is an evolving, collaborative process shaped by ongoing dialogue.

Overall, this week was about clarity, refining not just our designs, but the stories behind them. As we head into our presentation next week, we’re feeling more prepared and excited to share our vision.

Written by Ally Jenkins, Third Year Regional and Community Planning Student