Transforming disconnected suburban spaces into major urban centres

Abstract

The City of Overland Park, Kansas, a quintessential American suburb located in the Kansas City metropolitan region, embarked on a proactive initiative to revitalise a major suburban corridor in 2007. Public participation and input into a visioning plan helped the community to develop goals and objectives to establish a more balanced pedestrian-friendly and liveable community following decades of primarily outward suburban expansion. Implementation of the plan focuses on the establishment of key mixed-use nodes, new land-use approaches and redevelopment opportunities based around public transit and increased densities.