By Steve Bell
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-992411.mp3
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kansas City's city council cranked out a stack of measures to improve the community Thursday, but one of them has provoked some backlash.
The council was unanimous in passing measures including one for funding the city animal shelter, and another approving the purchase of the Kansas City International Raceway for conversion into a city park.
Animal welfare organizations were pleased. Drag racing fans were not, besieging Councilwoman Cindy Circo with e-mails accusing the city of forcing the closing or their favorite attraction and spending scarce revenue for "another drug-ridden park."
Circo said she's proud of the city's parks, and the Little Blue Valley area has needed one for a long time. " I think it will be a very high functioning regional park for the east part of Kansas City that doesn't even have a city park," she added.
Circo said the money to buy a park has accrued from developer contributions over the years, but this is the Raceway is the first property the city has ever been able to negotiate a deal on.