Get to know Columbus Park: tight-knit neighbors, skateboards & dining from Vietnam to Italy
Tucked just east of the River Market lies a vibrant, historic residential neighborhood and its namesake, Columbus Park.
This quiet area offers a respite from the bustling City Market shopping district just a few blocks away, and has been home to diverse communities of immigrants from Italy, Vietnam, Russia and Western Europe for generations. Before it was called Columbus Park, the neighborhood was a hub for Italian immigrants as early as the 1860s known as “The North End.”
A great place to walk your dog, hit the skate park or sample international cuisine, Columbus Park is beloved by longtime residents and an increasingly popular destination for visitors.
Must eat or drink
Happy Gillis is the spot to go for brunch, while citywide favorite Vietnamese coffee shop Café Cà Phê just opened its brick and mortar location in the neighborhood. Residents told The Star that they love Vietnam Cafe’s pho and Garozzo’s old-school Italian fare.
Must do
The neighborhood’s namesake park offers shady trees, play areas and plenty of grass for dog walkers and picnickers alike.
And Kansas City’s skaters flock to Columbus Park for the Harrison Street DIY skatepark. This spot was built by and for skaters on an empty city-owned lot starting in 2014. You’ll find people of all ages on skateboards, scooters and roller skates in this welcoming space. While the land it’s on is now for sale by the city, the park’s future remains uncertain.
Iconic neighborhood thing
The iconic Holy Rosary Church has been a neighborhood landmark and anchor since it was founded by Italian immigrants in 1891.
Columbus Park is also home to the Don Bosco Centers, a large nonprofit that provides meals and resources to seniors and other community members. The organization coordinates meal deliveries to seniors around Kansas City, and is home to a school that teaches English to Kansas Citians from around the world.
The Don Bosco Centers’ services were one reason why the neighborhood became a haven for refugees arriving to KC.
How to get involved
Neighborhood residents recommended checking out the Sewing Labs, a unique nonprofit dedicated to teaching sewing skills on a variety of machines.
“They are a powerhouse of teaching people how to be industrial sewists,” said Kate Barsotti, the president of the Columbus Park Community Council. Scholarships are available for sewing classes too.
What it’s known for
Many Columbus Park houses and split-level apartment buildings feature front porches and balconies, and many neighbors know each other.
One reader told us through our callout form that he loves the neighborhood’s tight-knit, friendly atmosphere and being able to sit out on his porch in the evening chatting with dog-walkers and others on the sidewalk.
“Some evenings will end up with 8 to 12 people hanging around someone’s front porch,” he said.
A bit of history
Columbus Park used to contain the year-round storage facility for the Missouri Department of Transportation’s road salt. The neighborhood fought for decades to get the mountain of salt removed, eventually bringing in state representative Jolie Justice to advocate on its behalf, Barsotti recalled.
There’s even more local history in the many families that have called Columbus Park home for multiple generations.
“Whole families lived within blocks of one another, and kids grew up with their aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents (sometimes in the same household or at least on the same block),” new resident Torey Levine told The Star. “So far what intrigues me the most is the family histories here.”
Did we miss something great about Columbus Park, or do you want to tell us your favorite thing about your neighborhood? Let us know at kcq@kcstar.com or with the form below.
