The University of Missouri-Kansas City officially unveiled its pedestrian-only area that was years in the making.
UMKC celebrated the grand opening of Roo Plaza, a vibrant, new campus and community hangout space on 51st Street between Rockhill and Cherry streets.
Chancellor Mauli Agrawal delivered remarks at the celebratory event.
“Roo Plaza isn’t just a beautification project,” Agrawal said. “It’s about reimagining how we use our campus – prioritizing people over traffic, connection over congestion. This is a space designed for students to meet up, eat, relax, study and spend time together all right in the heart of UMKC.”
Eric Dorfman, CEO and president of Linda Hall Library, also spoke at the event.
“Thank you UMKC and Chancellor Mauli Agrawal for not just the infrastructure change, but also the spirit of collaboration behind it,” Dorfman said. “We’re proud to be your neighbor and we look forward to where the shared space leads us next.”
Current Student Government Association president Yasmen Hassen talked about how Roo Plaza was created intentionally to reflect the evolving needs of the campus.
“Roo Plaza was built with purpose – it offers not only a place to walk safely between classes, but also a space to pause, connect and recharge,” Hassen said. “Whether you’re grabbing lunch, studying outdoors or just enjoying the energy of campus life, this space was designed to meet you there.”
Current Roo Plaza fixtures include chairs, tables, benches and stoops in classic UMKC blue and gold colors as well as other vibrant hues. Street paint graphics also decorate 51st Street between Rockhill and Cherry streets.
Original source can be found here.