Welcome to Kansas City! We are a diverse, widespread town filled with deep culture that is growing every year.
Here are a few things only KC natives know that will help you fit right in: I-435 is always under construction, the Independence Bridge will eat semi trucks and avoid zipper merging at all costs.
Oh, I almost forgot–we also have an observation wheel that no one asked for overlooking three major highways with a vague view of downtown.
Let’s be honest, we aren’t lacking any sort of entertainment value. With the Power and Light district, Westport neighborhood, plenty of concert venues, Worlds of Fun and even a planned construction of the Rock Island Bridge, it’s hard to have a boring Friday night.
The question stands: why is a giant unnecessary wheel being built right off of I-35 and Southwest Boulevard? What is being observed–traffic and crime? Not only is the observation wheel hilariously small, with the highest peak sitting at 150 feet tall (for reference, the Liberty Memorial at the WWI museum is 217 feet tall and has a much better view of the city), the location makes it a quick way to huff exhaust fumes for 15 minutes in the comfort of your own hot box in the sky.
According to City Scene KC, a $3.9 million building permit was filed for the observation wheel and “other associated amenities,” including a neon sign museum, a “tailgate park,” luxury housing and restaurant space.
The cherry on top: the wheel will light up–perfect for blinding not only the drivers on I-35, but those living in the brand new “luxury” apartments that were recently built directly next to the new construction.
The location is in a historically Hispanic neighborhood that has been widely underrepresented for many years. If the city wanted to benefit its citizens, shouldn’t money be put towards maintaining the area instead of gentrifying it? While the development of “Pennway Point” is privately funded, the city had to approve the proposal.
I am not the only one that shares the belief that this construction is wildly unneeded (and stupidly placed). On the Kansas City Reddit page there is a post from one week ago with over 230 comments, a majority questioning the build.
One user commented, “Ahhh the ambient sounds of traffic as I ride a mediocre Ferris wheel.”
Kansas City, let’s be honest– the kitsch-ness of Vegas really only works for Vegas. We are starting to look like an annoying little sister who copies everything the bigger cities do. Next time, work on better public transport infrastructure.
