Major construction is taking place at the UMKC campus, at 51st Street between Cherry Street and Rockhill. Near the center of campus, 51st Street road is closed to incoming cars, open only to pedestrian traffic due to incoming developments.
UMKC plans to turn 51st Street into a Plaza Community Gathering Space, intended for students and facilities to enjoy and congregate with one another. With the incoming developments, UMKC plans to transform the street into a walkway space for students to view art, furnishing, planters, string lights and more.
Over nearly the past month and the entirety of spring break, the full expanse between Cherry Street and Rockhill Road has been closed. Within the past few weeks the area has received small updates, resulting in constant road closures and detours. Several signs and blocades have been added near the working areas to help with traffic.
51st Street now has a new look, with a new decal and painting on the road accompanied by various different seating options and tables. New chairs and tables on the road sit at the end of the road near the Student Union, and at the center crossroads of 51st Street and Holmes Street.
UMKC students seem to have mixed feelings regarding the new changes. Ryan Millan, a junior studying communications and film, is satisfied with the new additions to the campus.
“I’m glad to see that it’s been turned into something useful like this,” Ryan said. “When I was walking to a class, I saw quite a few students hanging around here sitting down, chatting and enjoying the nice weather.”
Barkin Cihanli, a PhD candidate in economics, has a different viewpoint on the changes happening on campus, believing UMKC should be focusing on stronger issues in student life.
“ I appreciate the school’s efforts to create spaces for people to socialize with each other, but I think there are more pressing issues than this,” Barkin said. “The campus devotes a lot of funding for athletics, which is okay because it promotes the university, but UMKC boasts about being an R1 school. They should actually practice what is expected of an R1 school by investing in the people who are dedicating their time and effort to produce this scientific output.”
Athena Pecaut, a sophomore, thinks that the new additions are good for incoming students.
“I think it’s better now. We should have more places for students to sit down and walk around where it isn’t a risk that a car is around,” Athena said.
A street celebration will be held from noon till 1:30 on April 15 to mark the completion of Roo Plaza, inviting everyone to enjoy the new improvements with food trucks, music, games and giveaways.
UMKC Chancellor Mauli Agrawal, Eric Dorfman, CEO and president of Linda Hall Library, and Student Government Association President Yasmen Hassan will give brief remarks at 12:15.
