How do I find a community garden?
Find a community garden near you at KC Community Gardens.
How do I find out who owns a vacant lot?
A parcel map can help you identify the parcel number, land owner, and more. Many cities have parcel maps online. You can search by address, or If the address is unknown, zoom in on the neighborhood, then click on the parcel to see more information.
● Kansas City, KS - Parcel Viewer
● Kansas City, MO - Parcel Viewer
● Kansas City, KS - Parcel Viewer
● Kansas City, MO - Parcel Viewer
How do I find public land to lease or buy?
Land banks list publicly held land that is available for lease or purchase. While leasing can be an affordable option, lease agreements are often for a single year and subject to annual renewal. Lease agreements may prohibit permanent accessory structures, like storage sheds or wash stations, to be built on vacant lots. Land banks frequently disconnect water lines on vacant lots, and reinstalling a water line or installing a tap is a big investment whether you are leasing or buying.
If you are looking for a vacant lot in Kansas City, Missouri, Heartland Conservation Alliance developed a mapping tool that provides resources to begin the process of reclaiming a vacant lot. In the interactive map at the bottom of the webpage, select “Land Bank Vacant Lots with Greatest Environmental Sensitivity” and “Vacant Lots with Greatest Environmental Sensitivity” to view all vacant lots in Kansas City, Missouri. The rankings for environmental sensitivity indicate flood risk, ecological benefit and location within a food desert or low-income neighborhood. Select individual lots to view rankings and more information.
The Green Spaces and Urban Farms Action Group at Urban Neighborhood Initiative has guides for working with vacant lots and urban agriculture. Use their transformation calculator to estimate the cost of revitalizing a vacant lot.
Urban Neighborhood Initiative
If you are looking for a vacant lot in Kansas City, Missouri, Heartland Conservation Alliance developed a mapping tool that provides resources to begin the process of reclaiming a vacant lot. In the interactive map at the bottom of the webpage, select “Land Bank Vacant Lots with Greatest Environmental Sensitivity” and “Vacant Lots with Greatest Environmental Sensitivity” to view all vacant lots in Kansas City, Missouri. The rankings for environmental sensitivity indicate flood risk, ecological benefit and location within a food desert or low-income neighborhood. Select individual lots to view rankings and more information.
The Green Spaces and Urban Farms Action Group at Urban Neighborhood Initiative has guides for working with vacant lots and urban agriculture. Use their transformation calculator to estimate the cost of revitalizing a vacant lot.
Urban Neighborhood Initiative
- Vacant to Vibrant: A Guide to Working with Lots
- Urban Farming in Kansas City: A Guide for Decision Making
- Vacant to Vibrant Lot Transformation Calculator
How do I install a water line or tap?
To reconnect a water line or install a tap, you will need to hire a licensed plumber, who will apply for necessary permits from the municipality. Even if your farm is residentially zoned, a commercial permit may be required. The KC Grow water access program provides water audits and small grants to community gardens and urban farms in Kansas City, Missouri.
