The Blue River is Kansas City’s River — Can Kansas Citians Access it? About 800,000 people in the metro live in the Blue River Watershed, yet research indicates many people remain unaware of the river.

The Blue River is Kansas City’s river — but does everyone have equal access to it? There’s only one boat ramp on the entire 40-mile Blue River, and some community members say there could be more done to better connect them with the water flowing through their backyards. Flatland talked with the Heartland Conservation Alliance and community members in the lower Blue River to find out more.

Julie Freijat is a Kansas City PBS/Flatland reporter and a Report for America corps member working with the Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk. Her work is made possible, in part, through the generous support of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.