Kansas City is known far and wide for both its barbeque and jazz scenes, with over 24 million people visiting the destination each year. K.C. is also slated to host six matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, along with 16 other U.S. host cities, so this Missouri metro will have a lot of new eyes on it in the near future.
And with wellness becoming a regular part of many meetings and increasingly important to all travelers, here are five ways the City of Fountains is prioritizing healthy convening and implementing big changes just in time for one of the biggest sporting events in the world.
Green Spaces
Barney Allis Plaza
Slated to open in 2026 right before the city hosts part of the FIFA World Cup, the Barney Allis Plaza is set to be one of the area’s premiere public green spaces. The nearly $120 million redevelopment will feature a 9,300-square-foot event plaza and an 8,800-square-foot pavilion plaza, each able to host pop-up events and large group gatherings.
The green spaces in the plaza include an 11,500-square-foot sloped lawn featuring terraces and views of the event plaza and a 10,100-square-foot oval lawn with flat green space for casual events. There will also be a family-friendly play area and a new dog park as part of the redevelopment.
Under the plaza, there will be a 580-vehicle underground parking garage, leaving room up top for more gathering and green spaces. The garage will be adjacent to the Kansas City Convention Center and connected via a pedestrian tunnel to the Kansas City Marriott Downtown and Municipal Auditorium.
South Loop Project
Similar to the Barney Allis Plaza, Kansas City also plans to build an urban park above a portion of Interstate 670, capping the interstate and helping to connect the city’s Crossroads and Power and Light districts. The project will likely be built in phases over the next three years, with hopes to be completed before the 2026 World Cup.
The project has already raised over $120 million and would fundamentally change the shape and look of Kansas City’s downtown area, transforming a currently unattractive portion into public green space and a state-of-the-art destination park. The park may also include features such as accessible play spaces, public entertainment forums, multimodal transportation options and more.
Healthy Dining
While Kansas City is mostly known for its world-famous barbecue, the city is also home to many more-healthy dining options. One of these is True Food Kitchen in the Country Club Plaza shopping center. A chain restaurant focusing on seasonality, fresh ingredients and simple preparations, True Food Kitchen includes options such as a kale Caesar salad, charred cauliflower and a wild-caught tuna poke bowl. True Food Kitchen can also accommodate catering and group dining requests.
Another option for healthy eating in Kansas City is Westside Local, which focuses on farm-to-table American cuisine. With many vegetarian and health-focused menu items such as crispy Brussel sprouts, roasted beet hummus plate and multiple quinoa options, Westside Local is a great spot for groups to consider having cater their next meeting or event.
A unique dining option for your attendees is to help them learn to make their own healthy dishes once they leave your event. The Culinary Center of Kansas City offers customized private cooking activities for large events or corporate business meetings, including interactive cooking parties, a cooking competition, cake decorating contests and interactive cooking classes. The Culinary Center of Kansas City also offers catering and meal options as well as a private event space for groups participating in their teambuilding events.
Workout Options
There are multiple workout options for attendees to take advantage of in downtown Kansas City. Nathan Hermiston, senior vice president of convention sales and services for Visit Kansas City, recommends a variety of great workout options for those visiting the city.
“There are tons of fitness studios, yoga studios, that are within blocks of whatever hotel you may be staying at that are easy to access,” Hermiston said.
One company that Hermiston said groups could take advantage of is Fit Truk, a company that started in Kansas City and provides a fully equipped, mobile gym in the form of a “Truk.” The Truk includes rowers, squat racks, cable stations, pull up bars and other workout equipment along with amenities such as TVs for guided workouts, a climate-controlled office space, chilled water bottle filler and a state-of-the-art sound system. Fit Truk’s mobility means it can easily be contracted for meetings and can allow multiple attendees to get a quick outdoor workout in during the event.
Hermiston said there are also multiple pop-up yoga events throughout the city, including a free weekly yoga community event at the Kansas City Museum. Planners can also rent out large event venues such as the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts or The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art to host their own private yoga events.
Walkable Downtown
Kansas City also has an extremely active and walkable downtown area, with nearly 30,000 residents that live downtown naturally giving the area a focus on health and wellness components that meeting and event planners can take advantage of. There are multiple running and bike paths downtown, with bike lanes possibly being expanded as well.
“I know that’s a big initiative at the city level, even at the county level, to make sure that the city has more transit options than just car and streetcar,” Hermiston said. “It’s good for walking, good for biking, scooters, whatever your mode of choice.”
Another option that can provide your attendees with a unique exercise option is Urban Hikes Kansas City, a company that mixes hiking with Kansas City’s history, allowing tourists to take in the views of downtown while getting a workout. The company provides “urban hikes” all year round and eight expert guides that can give public or private tours that mix modern and historical sites.
The company offers multiple types of hikes that range from two to five miles, including the Quindaro Ruins Urban Hike, Tea & Mural Urban Hike, River Market Urban Hike and Kansas City History of Transportation Hike, among others. There are also options for corporate events and teambuilding outings that will help facilitate a fun, customized and memorable experience for attendees. Tours are also offered in English or Spanish.
