Cities across the country, including Kansas City, face a well-chronicled infrastructure crisis, but few are discussing realistic solutions. The common assumption is that any growth is good but, in reality, most development over the past 70 years has not created enough value to justify the cost of roads, sewers and public safety. Debt has consequently risen. The Making a Great City series is designed to advance prescriptions for changing the course and encouraging smarter growth.

The library partnered with a host of agencies including the Mid-America Regional Council in staging three public presentations at the library by nationally renowned urban planners. Chuck Marohn of the Minnesota-based nonprofit Strong Towns led off. All explored ways to become more strategic and fiscally responsible in city building. Each speaker joined a breakfast discussion the following morning with select Kansas City civic leaders, doing a deeper dive into planning and development issues.

The three public presentations in January, March and May 2018 drew 1,094 people. Participants in the round-table discussions ranged from the executive director of the Mid-America Regional Council to the deputy director of the Kansas City Health Department and head of the nonprofit Greater Kansas City LISC (Local Initiative Support Corporation). These high-level community stakeholders now plan to extend the series while meeting to organize, facilitate and implement strategies laid out by the national leaders.