Kansas City recognizes MU Extension and community partners for North Terrace Lake renewal

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension and partners were recognized by the City of Kansas City for leadership in restoration efforts in Kessler Park’s North Terrace Lake.

MU Extension specialists Tamra Reall and Elena Stephenson, along with Shatomi Luster-Edward, regional director for MU Extension’s Urban West Region, were among those receiving an official proclamation from the city recognizing North Terrace Lake Restoration Coalition as a “Heart of the City Spotlight,” citing the coalition’s work to transform the lake into a safe, accessible and ecologically healthy public space.

The coalition brings together MU Extension with local, state and neighborhood partners to address longstanding challenges at North Terrace Lake in Kessler Park. Once marked by disrepair, limited access and environmental decline, the site is being reshaped through coordinated work in conservation, infrastructure and community engagement.

MU Extension has played a key role in convening partners, supporting neighborhood engagement and connecting technical expertise to community priorities, Luster-Edward said. The work covers a lot of ground: environmental restoration, infrastructure improvements, neighborhood engagement, and community programming, drawing on expertise in horticulture, conservation, urban planning, design and community education.

“Restoring North Terrace Lake is about more than fixing a park,” said Reall, an MU Extension horticulture specialist. “It is about affirming that this neighborhood deserves investment.”

Momentum for improvement began in 2021 when then–10-year-old Jack Murphy, a regular fisherman at the lake, raised concerns about invasive honeysuckle, erosion, trash and safety issues around the shoreline. Working with MU Extension horticulturist Tamra Reall, Jack helped spotlight both environmental and access challenges facing the park. His advocacy galvanized neighbors, city agencies and nonprofit partners to rally around a shared vision for restoring and protecting the lake.

Since then, collaboration among MU Extension, Kansas City Parks and Recreation, the Missouri Department of Conservation, neighborhood groups and design and conservation partners has led to tangible improvements. Repairs to a rock wall and benches, erosion control above the lake, invasive plant removal and organized cleanup days have already made a visible difference. Additional plans, including better lighting, safer access and continued ecological restoration, reflect a long-term commitment to making North Terrace Lake cleaner, safer, and more welcoming.

Organizers view the North Terrace Lake project as a model for how community-driven ideas, supported by sustained partnerships, can lead to lasting improvements in public spaces.

This effort also highlights the unique value of MU Extension as a connector that brings people, ideas and organizations together to get things done, Luster-Edward said. By listening to community concerns and working across neighborhoods, city departments, state agencies, and nonprofit partners, MU Extension helped turn one young person’s vision into meaningful, lasting community change.