338: Scarritt Renaissance Neighborhood Association

Kansas City's Northeast Newscast

Join us in a conversation with Scarritt Renaissance Neighborhood Association President Jacob Luke.
The Scarritt Renaissance Neighborhood, named after Reverend Nathan Scarritt, a Methodist missionary and educator, traces its origins to 1845 when Scarritt traveled from Lebanon, Illinois to Fayette, Missouri, founding Central Methodist University.

The Scarritt Renaissance Neighborhood Association (SRNA) was chartered on September 18, 1986. Its boundaries are Chestnut Avenue (west), Jackson Avenue (east), Independence Avenue (south), and the Cliff Drive Scenic Byway (north).

SRNA has hosted events like Historic Homes Tours in the 1990s and 2000s, attracting over 1,500 visitors. The annual Scare-It Halloween event on October 31 draws up to 5,000 people, featuring decorated homes along Gladstone Boulevard.

The neighborhood includes two National Register Historic Districts, featuring over 150 historic properties along Gladstone and Benton Boulevards, including the recently renovated Kansas City Museum.

President Jacob Luke highlighted projects such as restoring the Colonnade, planning for Kessler Park, and the St. John Avenue traffic calming study. Approaching its 38th anniversary, the neighborhood continues its development in collaboration with partners like Legal Aid of Western Missouri and the Lykins Neighborhood Trust.

SRNA, a registered 501(c)(3), meets bi-monthly at the Kansas City Museum. More information can be found at scarrittkc.org.