Parking garage opens in 18th & Vine. Roller rink, pedestrian mall on the way

18th & Vine is getting a roller rink.

The Kansas City parks department announced that work is underway to bring a 16,000-square-foot outdoor roller skating rink to Blues Park, off East 20th Street and Prospect Avenue, in the 18th & Vine Historic Jazz District area.

Renovations at the park include a new public restroom, which was installed last summer, alongside new sidewalks, a new parking lot and a seating area for spectators. The rink is expected to open later this year.

“With over $1.7 million in improvements, Blues Park is receiving a major facelift,” James Wang, deputy director for parks, said in a statement. “We are excited to move forward in this project and create a new and improved Blues Park for visitors and residents of the historic 18th & Vine Jazz District.”

18th & Vine roller rink project, others

The roller rink project joins numerous other finished or ongoing projects around 18th & Vine under the city’s Revive the Vine initiative, which includes working with developers, nonprofits and arts organizations to bring new housing and more amenities to the historic neighborhood.

Among them is the new multi-story parking garage at East 18th Street and Lydia Avenue, which opened last week.

And on Wednesday, the city is expected to officially unveil the new pedestrian mall project down 18th Street through the district’s core, which began construction last year.

Officials will stage a grand opening for the pedestrian mall on Wednesday. It includes new landscaping, new lighting and expanded space for pedestrians with an eye toward hosting events.