How did Kansas City miraculously transform itself from “the filthiest city in the United States” in the 19th century to the clean, well-planned embodiment of the vision of renowned landscape architect George Kessler?

Eyesores and health threats — ugly gullies, open sewers, and decrepit shanties — disappeared before a wave of open, green, welcoming spaces of wide thoroughfares, playgrounds, pools, and field houses. By the time city planners finished their work, our “city beautiful” possessed 90 miles of boulevards and 2,500 acres of urban parks.

Hyde Park residents and co-authors Patrick Alley and Dona Boley present this great success story, an inspiration for civic efforts in the new millennium, with an illustrated lecture based on their new book, Kansas City’s Parks and Boulevards.