Challenger Cities Challenger Cities EP38: The City Fixer's Guide to Messy Momentum with Kevin Klinkenberg
Every city tells itself a story. In Kansas City, it’s one of manageability: there’s parking when you want it, space to drive, and just enough shine in a few key places to make it feel like things are ticking along. But scratch the surface—or take a walk down the streets that aren’t newly polished—and another story emerges. One of unrealised potential, oversized roads, empty sidewalks, and neighbourhoods running on a fraction of their former energy.
In this episode, we sit down with Kevin Klinkenberg, architect-turned-place-maker and Executive Director of Midtown KC Now, who has spent years in the guts of Kansas City figuring out how to shift that story—not through glossy master plans, but by making blocks work better. Then another. And another.
We talk about:
- Why “big visions” rarely survive contact with reality
- How a three-block art walk (The Artery) is sparking collaboration across Kansas City
- The overlooked power of roundabouts, backyard cottages, and other suburban fixes
- Why charm often comes from what’s been left alone, not designed from scratch
- How small, scrappy interventions—a tricycle in the street, a few trees—can create real momentum
As Kevin says: “Pick the thing that annoys you, and fix that.”
If you’ve ever wondered how to get your city unstuck—or how to make a meaningful difference without waiting for permission—this conversation is for you.