Oppenstein Park Activation

summer 2026 | Public realm activation

Preface

The studio explored ways to welcome visitors to Kansas City in the summer of 2026 through a public park activation at Oppenstein Park, an important civic space in the heart of downtown. KCDC students developed 17 design proposals that reimagined how the park can support gathering and celebration during the World Cup in Kansas City. Proposals focused on three approaches: vendor activation, performance-oriented design, and movable site furnishings. The proposals were presented to Jackson County Parks, which selected the winning design, “Pack and Play.” Thanks to generous sponsorship from HNTB, KCDC was able to bring the concept to life, working with The Fabrication Shop to fabricate and install the final design.

What should I know about the Oppenstein Park Activation?

The winning design proposal that was chosen was “Pack and Play”, a bike cart that contains everything for a pop-up park: seating, tables, and lawn games. The bike cart contained corn hole, ladder toss, and tic tac toe. “Pack and Play” was debuted on June 16th for the first World Cup match in Kansas City and remained out for the month of June. The activation demonstrated how small-scale, movable design interventions can transform an existing public space and create opportunities for gathering.