KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The famous steps on the hill along Volker Boulevard near the Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts in Kansas City, Missouri, could get a much-needed facelift.
The owner of a local business believes the steps could become a place for the community to gather and re-energize neighbors to develop healthy habits.
Chris Goode, of Ruby Jean's Juicery, climbed the steps to get in shape when he was a teenager on the football team in high school. As an adult, he still uses the steep steps to exercise.
The steps, a landmark in the history of Paseo High School, are located along The Paseo and Volker. The name of the high school is spelled out with large, white stones.
When Goode, whose parents both graduated from Paseo High, posted on social media about his plan to renovate the set of stairs, the reaction was overwhelmingly positive. Goode said he has spoken with city leaders and is positive that renovating the steps will bring new life to the area.
"I would like to see these walls redone. I would like to see these stairs turned into shock-absorbent stairs, this leveled out and repaved," he said. "Outdoor bathrooms, some of these hanging limbs cut back. Very durable landscaping alongside the walls. Maybe some solar lighting going down the stairs."
Goode's plan is still in the beginning stages. If it becomes a reality, he said it will serve as a beacon to encourage a healthy lifestyle that will lure more visitors to Kansas City.
