About Berkley Riverfront
Berkley Riverfront Park is a 17-acre green space along the Missouri River, featuring a scenic esplanade and year-round community events.
Richard L. Berkley Riverfront Park was dedicated in October 1998 and opened to the public in March 1999. The 17-acre park is located on the south bank of the Missouri River between the Kit Bond Bridge and Heart of America Bridge.
Once a landfill for construction debris and the former site of a sand and gravel company, the park area now consists of more than 300 trees and a nearly one-mile long esplanade with period lighting. It features six sand volleyball courts on its eastern edge. The park hosts events such as KC RiverFest, Kansas City’s annual Independence Day Celebration, 5K run/walks, corporate picnics, weddings and concerts.
Berkley Riverfront is a vibrant connection between Kansas City and its most significant natural asset, the Missouri River. With nearly a mile of scenic frontage along the river, it offers visitors a unique connection to nature, history, and nearby neighborhoods like the River Market and Columbus Park.
Richard L. Berkley
The City of Kansas City, Missouri, named Richard L. Berkley Riverfront Park in honor of former Mayor Richard L. Berkley for his extraordinary history of service to the city and its people. As mayor of Kansas City from 1979 to 1991, he helped bring 911 services to the city’s residents and created the mayor’s task forces on food and hunger, drugs and AIDS. He created the Kansas City Jazz Commission and co-originated the Kansas City Ethics Commission. He chaired the Municipal Art Commission and served on the Police Board.
Recognized during his terms as one of the nation’s most popular mayors among his peers, he served as president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. He was president of the Missouri Municipal League. Before serving as mayor, he was a City Council Member beginning in 1969 for 10 years – the last 8 elected Mayor Pro Tem by his colleagues on the Council.
Richard Berkley earned William Jewell College’s W.H. Yates Medallion of Distinguished Service in Civic Affairs, the B’nai B’rith Man of the Year Award, Baker University’s Public Service Award, The Kansas City Spirit Award, The Chamber of Commerce’s Man of the Year, and the Economic Development Corporation’s James C. Denney Spirit Award. He received awards from Park University, UNICO, and was recognized by the Urban League as a Difference Maker.
After leaving office he served as Chairman of the Film Commission, Chairman of People to People International and was a member of the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority.
