BiedermanRedevelopmentVenturesVibrant Public Spaces:Successful Governance and OperationsOctober 23, 2019

Grading Public Spaces

● Diverse revenue sources● Less reliance on

government funding and management

● No wasted capital dollars● Active programming● Constant innovation and

change in user experience

● High standard of operations and aesthetics

● Single or few revenue sources

● More reliance on government funding and management

● Expensive capital improvements

● Little to no programming● No innovation or change

in user experience● Low standard of

operations and aesthetics

More effective Less effective

Spectrum of Public Space Management

More effective Less effective

Spectrum of Public Space Management

More effective Less effective

Bryant Park, New York, NY

Klyde Warren Park, Dallas, TX

Levy Park, Houston, TX

Spectrum of Public Space Management

More effective Less effective

The Commons, Minneapolis, MN

Comparative Park Features

Bryant Park (NYC)

Dilworth Park (Philadelphia)

Klyde Warren Park (Dallas)

Post Office Square (Boston)

Discovery Green (Houston)

Millennium Park (Chicago)

Yerba Buena Gardens (SF)

Salesforce Park (SF)

Union Square (SF)

Public Square (Cleveland)

Levy Park(Houston)

Governing Body Quality

A A A- A- A- B+ B+ B B- B- C

Gov't Management / Funding

No No No No No Yes; Park District No; Private Manager

Gov’t Agency

No; BID and Private Manager

City Owned;Nonprofit Manager

No; Redevelop-ment Authority

Diversity of Revenue Sources

Multiple Several Multiple Several Multiple Several Few Several Several Few? F&B

CapEx Dollars Wasted

None Renovation Cost: $55 Million

Fancy Stage and Restaurant

None None $475 Million Spent, Some Unnecessary

Underused Stage None 2018/19 Total Operating Expenses: ~$4.3 Million

Renovation Cost: $50 Million

None

Programming Elaborate Occasional Frequent Occasional Extensive Occasional Regular Elaborate Rare Occasional Frequent

Visitors/Acre (non-event)

~800; 9.6 Acres

~250;4 Acres

~300 (weekdays)~600 (weekends); 5 Acres

~300;1.7 Acres

~750; 12 acres ~1,500;24.5 Acres

~150;5 Acres

~425; 2 Acres

~250;2.6 Acres

~400 Daily Visitors

~333; 6 acres

Softscape/Horticulture

Elaborate Gardens and Planters

Light Drought Tolerant Elaborate Trellises Easier to program hardscape (avoid wear and tear on grass)

One Huge Section of Gardens

Good Massive Plantings

Palm Trees and Planters

More Hardscape than Softscape

Planted and legacy trees

Unnecessary Hardscape

None Converted Plaza None None None Some None None Much None None

Innovations/Improvements (2000-2019)

Continual N/A - Recently Opened

Occasional Minimal 2019: $12 Million in Renovations

Minimal Minimal N/A – Opened 2019

Renovations: 2000-2002

N/A - Recently Opened

Minimal - Opened 2017

Close to Population Centers

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Attention to Details

High OK High High OK OK OK High OK TBD High

Days of Good Weather/Year

~110 ~110 200-250 ~90 200-250 ~90 ~320 ~320 ~320 ~100 200-250

Restroom Quality

A+ None in Park; CIty Hall

B- A - Recently Renovated

B At Pritzker Pavilion and Tribune Plaza

2 Public Restrooms

B+ No Restrooms 2: 1 in Cafe 1 Outside for Public

A+

Lighting Quality A A- B B B B+ B A A B+ A

F&B Quality High Minimal Fair Informal Fair Inadequate Inadequate Too Soon to Grade

Off Site Food Trucks

1 Cafe, Food Truck Tuesdays

Too Soon to Grade

Capex Dollars Wasted - Klyde Warren Park, Dallas, TX

Programming - Levy Park, Houston, TX

Hardscape vs Softscape – Public Square, Cleveland, OH

Horticulture – Millenium Park, Chicago, IL

Innovation and ImprovementsBefore and After: Discovery Green, Houston, TX

Before After

Attention to Detail - Bryant Park, New York, NY

Restrooms - Bryant Park, New York, NY

Food & Beverage - Salesforce Park, San Francisco, CA

Stakeholder Q & A and Discussion

1. What are the pros/cons of various governance models?2. Are there comparable public-private models elsewhere in

Kansas City?3. What lessons were learned from these case studies?