It appears that Kansas City has adopted Hiram Young as one of the top ten most influential historical figures for the pioneer trails history of this region and beyond. An image of Hiram Young has been prominently placed in marble and concrete at one of ten bridge piers alongside images and interpretive information of Jim Bridger, Kit Carson, Alexander Majors, and others on the new bridge over the Blue River adjacent to Red Bridge in South KC. The site was the river crossing for the wagon trains heading west and is now adjacent to a City Park and golf course. This innovative historical presentation has led to upgrades in infrastructure (roadways & bridges), improved public safety, biking & walking trails, and community pride touted by city employees, politicians, and citizens. “This Red Bridge is so important in our district that it can’t be understated,” Councilman Scott Taylor said. “It’s not only an improvement for commuters but for joggers and bikers. As we attract new families to Kansas City, this is one of the amenities that families are looking for.” Patrick Klein, Director of Capital Projects, stated “This bridge has had more public input than any bridge in the city.” Community-minded folks saw the potential for a big infrastructure improvement to negatively impact an adjacent nationally designated resource so all the stake holders got together and created something special. The improvements actually enhance the history of the site and make it more assessable to the public. There are huge lessons to be learned here, especially for Independence. The first lesson is that our history is not an obstacle to progress but a tool for progress. Our history can enrich our development and redevelopment of housing, retail, infrastructure, and recreation while integrating a valuable dimension to our community assets. No other community has the tools that we have here in Independence for community improvement. The second lesson is that we need to keep the history communities engaged in discussions early in projects and not after decisions and directions are already determined. It’s called “City Planning” not “City Reaction.” We should be flattered that other adjacent communities see Independence history as an asset to the presentation of their stories. It’s time for us to jump on the covered wagon and get with the program. Our history is our biggest asset. Every project in Independence should be reviewed with respect to its impact on not just our local history but this important national and international history. And every project should be evaluated as if it would be reported in the New York Times.
