Yvonne Starks Wilson Park

Originally named Liberty Park, Yvonne Starks Wilson Park has become a recreational fixture of the Leeds and Dunbar areas. Created in the 1920s, the park contained numerous amenities to serve the community. During a time when better-appointed facilities in places like Swope Park were still highly segregated, Liberty Park provided recreational opportunities to Black children that were otherwise inaccessible. As time went on, Liberty Park remained a popular gathering place. In 2018, the park was renamed to Yvonne Starks Wilson Park in honor of Missouri State Senator Yvonne S. Wilson, who was born in the area in 1929. Today, Yvonne Starks Wilson Park is the only space in the Kansas City Parks system named for an African-American woman. In 2022, the Heart of the City Neighborhood Association held a centennial celebration for the park, proving that despite the decades, this park remains a beloved staple of the east side of Kansas City.

In the early days of Kansas City, segregation defined almost every aspect of life for African-American communities. Restrictive housing covenants and realtors were the genesis of the Leeds and Dunbar neighborhoods, industrial areas on the east side of the Metro. Already separated from many elements of Kansas City, Black families in Leeds and Dunbar found themselves further cut off by the segregation of recreational facilities in places like Swope Park. In response to this, Liberty Park was opened on the east side of the Dunbar area in 1922. According to The Community Voice, "The park had a merry-go-round, concession stands, playgrounds, a baseball diamond and featured radio concerts." Even though Swope Park desegregated along with the rest of Kansas City in the 1950s, Liberty Park remained a key gathering place for those living near it.

In 2018, the park was renamed to honor Missouri State Senator Yvonne S. Wilson. Wilson was born in the area in 1929, and attended both Dunbar Elementary School and Lincoln High School. After attending Lincoln University, Wilson worked in various roles with the Kansas City Missouri School District over a 35-year period. In 1999, she was elected to represent Jackson County in the Missouri House of Representatives. After five years in the House, Wilson was elected to the State Senate in 2004, where she served on numerous committees. Even after she retired from politics in 2010, Wilson remained active in the community, serving on numerous boards, committees, and campaigns for the betterment of Kansas City. Wilson attended the dedication of the park on September 11, 2018, offering the words “Be proud of where you came from, and be proud of the people who helped you get along the way.” Sadly, Yvonne Wilson passed away on October 14, 2019. Though her absence is keenly felt by the communities she served, the park that bears her name has continued to be a beloved community gathering place, with the Heart of the City Neighborhood Association celebrating the 100-year anniversary of the park in 2022.

Johnson, Jazzlyn. “Leeds-Dunbar Neighborhood to Celebrate 100th Anniversary of Historic Park.” The Community Voice, August 31, 2022. https://www.communityvoiceks.com/2022/05/19/leeds-dunbar-neighborhood-to-celebrate-100th-anniversary-of-historic-park/. 

“Obituary for Yvonne Delores (Starks) Wilson,” Watkins Heritage Chapel (https://www.watkinsheritage.com/obituary/YVONNE-WILSON : accessed 8 December 2022), Yvonne Delores (Starks) Wilson, died 14 October 2019.

Schallhorn, Kaitlyn. “Yvonne Wilson, Longtime Missouri State Lawmaker, Dies at 90.” The Missouri Times, October 14, 2019. https://themissouritimes.com/yvonne-wilson-longtime-missouri-state-lawmaker-dies-at-90/. 

“Yvonne Starkes Wilson Park: KC Parks and Recreation.” Kansas City Parks. Accessed December 8, 2022. https://kcparks.org/places/starks-wilson-park/.