Shoal Creek Parkway Garden Fountain

This large copper garden fountain was installed in 2002 in coordination with the construction of Shoal Creek Parkway. Each of the three large bowls are created from overlapping petal-like blades that are embossed with an abstract pattern. Water spouts from the top in four directions through a spherical cap, and gaps between each petal allow water to trickle down to the succeeding tiers before reaching a limestone-block pool. The pedestal is also embossed and features knob-like protrusions surrounded by a swirling pattern, while leaf-like forms rest under the base of each saucer.

Shoal Creek Parkway is a major thoroughfare in Kansas City’s Northland community of Shoal Creek Valley, an approximately 32-square mile area which was annexed by the City of Kansas City from 1959 to 1962. Due to its historical agricultural use and lack of basic infrastructure, including a sanitary sewer, streets, and water services, the area remained undeveloped for decades. In March 1992, the Shoal Creek Valley Area Plan was adopted to build a framework for the area's development and to stimulate economic growth.

The Shoal Creek Valley Master Community Plan was secured in 2000 and included a transportation system, maintenance of services and amenities, support of commercial areas, and preservation of the natural character of this area surrounding Shoal Creek. The construction of Shoal Creek Parkway was made possible with funding from a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Plan that was originally approved in October 1994, and was built in phases for nearly two decades. 

In large part to these development efforts and the construction of Shoal Creek Parkway, Shoal Creek Valley saw rapid expansion. When the plan was first accepted in 1994, the population was 1,743 and had only grown to around 2,000 when the first phases of the Master Plan were being implemented in 2000. By 2015, it was nearly 30,000. The area’s original five businesses grew to 160 by 2016. Shoal Creek Valley is also now home to multiple schools, parks and golf courses.

The Shoal Creek Parkway Garden Fountain was installed in the median of this busy parkway, designed by project engineering company Burns & McDonnell, to support Kansas City’s ongoing City Beautiful Movement, which was established at the turn of the twentieth century with the construction of the first boulevards. The movement was implemented to enhance the urban environment with landscaping and statuary.

Shoal Creek Parkway Garden Fountain, City of Fountains Foundation. Accessed November 3rd, 2022. https://cityoffountains.org/shoal-creek-parkway-garden-fountain/.

Shoal Creek Valley Area Plan, City of Kansas City, Missouri. December 5th, 2017. Accessed November 3rd, 2022. https://drive.google.com/file/d/18nU6eY24jYKymro-G_WvSfNVaPBiPwH3/view.

The Shoal Creek Parkway Tax Increment Financing Plan, Accessed November 3rd, 2022. https://s3.amazonaws.com/TIFC-Plans/Shoal%20Creek%2C%20Original%20%2831603%29.pdf.

Ball-Edson, J.. Private communication, October 2022.