Curran Park Historical Marker

This North Kansas City historical marker recognizes a former city park that honored city booster Hugh J. Curran and the efforts of other citizens who supported urban planning and development in this part of the Kansas City metro area. On February 3, 1903, Chicago meatpackers Philip Armour & Gustavus F. Swift and the Burlington Railroad founded the North Kansas City Development Company (NKCDC). Subsequently, the company purchased several thousand acres of property from Willard E. Winner, intending to relocate their meatpacking plants and stockyards onto the new property. However, new Congressional legislation prevented that plan from transpiring and as a result, NKCDC officials decided to attract other industries, something that also shaped the history of the West Bottoms which became the epicenter of meatpacking. In 1907, NKCDC sent Hugh J. Curran and Armour-Swift personnel to start property development. The efforts of Curran and NKCDC demonstrate that North Kansas City's commercial development, urban planning, and infrastructure pre-dated its population growth, something that made this part of the metro area unique from "older" sections of the city. Recognizing the central role of Curran's efforts to urban planning, the city renamed an existing park in his honor. The park served as a green space for area residents until 1946 and is now home to a vibrant retail area.

Developer Willard E. Winner dreamed of a North Kansas City suburb long before the creation of the North Kansas City Development Company. As early as 1883, Winner built a rock road, purchased land and platted subdivisions, and started constructing a bridge across the Missouri River. Unfortunately, Winner did not see his dream come to fruition. However, Swift and Armour, who made their fame and fortunes in Chicago as meatpackers, purchased Winner's land and, without realizing it at the time, would fulfill Winner's dream. After the U.S. government passed laws that prevented Swift and Armour from moving their meatpacking plants and stockyards to North Kansas City, their company, NKCDC, produced plans to develop the area.

The NKCDC paved streets and built a levee, and they also installed a waterworks system and constructed a bridge over the Missouri River. Willard Winner had attempted to secure a bridge over the river in the 1880s, and NKCDC's success brought an interurban railway to the town. With the infrastructure and transportation in place, the NKCDC lured commercial operations to North Kansas City, such as Sears & Roebuck. The urban planning and commercial expansion led to population growth in North Kansas City, demonstrated by the town's incorporation on November 4, 1912. Curran, the NKCDC president, spearheaded much of the city's development until he retired in 1937.

In 1931, in recognition of Curran's efforts, the town named an existing city park in his honor. The park, located on the west side of Swift Avenue, between 17th and 18th Avenues, had been used since the town's early development took place. Curran Park served the community as a concert, local sporting events, and typical park activities. The park contract was replaced with commercial development in 1946, something its supporters hoped the park's namesake would appreciate. 

The historical marker serves as a reminder of Winner's dream, Curran's and NKCDC's impact, and the area's ties to meatpacking, which initially drew Swift and Armourr to the area from Chicago.

"About North Kansas City." North Kansas City Business Council. nkcbusinesscouncil.com. Accessed May 5, 2022. https://www.nkcbusinesscouncil.com/about-north-kansas-city/.

Adams, John Q. "The North Kansas City Urban District." Economic Geography 8, no. 4 (1932): 409–25.

"Curran Park." The Native Sons and Daughters of Greater Kansas City. nsdkc.org. Accessed May 6, 2022. https://nsdkc.org/curran_park.

Fischer, William Jr. "Curran Park." The Historical Marker Database. HMdb.com. April 22, 2022. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=73534.

Powers, Mathew and Clio Admin. "Sears, Roebuck and Company Warehouse Building (Park Lofts)." Clio: Your Guide to History. January 26, 2022. Accessed May 6, 2022. https://www.theclio.com/entry/145251.

Wade, Louise Carroll. "Meatpacking." Encyclopedia of Chicago. chicagohistory.org. Accessed May 6, 2022. http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/804.html.