Marina
On 913 Day, neighbors near 18th and Quindaro Boulevard in Kansas City, Kansas (KCK) united to celebrate their community pride. But beneath the festivities, a persistent problem looms: illegal dumping.
Residents report piles of trash—from barrels to mattresses—on nearly every block, and while city crews sometimes clean up, the trash often returns the next day.
What Neighbors Are Saying
Terry Norton, a long-time resident, commented that trash keeps reappearing because “people just think they can get away with it,” especially in areas with overgrown grass, which appear vacant.
Gary Wilson, owner of Wilson’s Pizza since 1998, added that the dumping hurts the neighborhood’s image and impacts local businesses. He pointed out that in KCK trash service does collect household trash, so residents should use that instead of dumping illegally.
Neighbors believe that much of the trash comes from individuals outside the community, making illegal dumping feel like an intrusion and a civic insult.
The Illegal Dumping Issue: At a Glance
| Issue | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Around 18th & Quindaro, extending from 10th Street to 38th Street |
| Common Items Dumped | Barrels, discarded furniture, mattresses, general household trash |
| Frequency | Trash appears almost daily, even after cleanups |
| Contributing Factors | High grass, perceptions of vacant land, outsiders dumping |
| Impact | Harms neighborhood image, affects local businesses, causes frustration |
| Residents’ Demands | More police patrols, consistent cleanups, stronger focus on NE KCK |
Why This Matters
- Neighborhood Appearance: The constant presence of trash undermines community pride and discourages foot traffic and investment.
- Business Impact: Local businesses like Wilson’s Pizza suffer from reduced customer traffic and poor visual surroundings.
- Public Health & Safety: Piles of debris can attract pests, pose hazards to children and pets, and may obstruct sidewalks or emergency access.
- Community Morale: Seeing the same trash day after day erodes morale and sends a message of neglect.
Residents’ Requests for Action
- Increased Police Patrols
- More frequent monitoring, especially during peak dumping hours, to deter offenders.
- Regular City Cleanups
- Clean-up crews are welcomed, but consistent scheduling is needed to prevent trash from reaccumulating.
- Targeted Focus on Northeast KCK
- Neighbors specifically cite the stretch between 10th Street and 38th Street along Quindaro as a hotspot requiring city attention.
Understanding the Scale
- Every block in the area sees some form of dumping.
- Trash reappears daily, even after morning cleanups.
- Business owners report declining foot traffic tied to the area’s appearance.
- The problem is regional, not limited to a few rogue spots.
Community Initiatives & Opportunities
- SOAR (Stabilization, Occupation, and Revitalization)
The Wyandotte County KCK initiative encourages residents to report illegal dumping via 311, help maintain clean yards, and participate in beautification efforts. - 311 Reporting Channels
Convenient reporting of illegal dumping, overgrown lots, and maintenance issues is available via phone, app, or web.
The illegal dumping problem along Quindaro in Kansas City, Kansas is more than just trash—it’s a visual sore, a civic frustration, and a public health concern.
Residents at the 913 Day celebration raised their voices, demanding stronger city action, consistent cleanup, and greater accountability for offenders.
Through coordinated efforts—community monitoring, increased police patrols, and city-powered programs like SOAR—there’s hope that the area can be cleaned up and kept that way.
