Early last month, the Parkville Board of Aldermen heard an update on a project to install informational and free public WiFi kiosks in city parks.
Bob Bennett, who has been working on the project for the city free of charge, is a Parkville resident who served as chief innovation officer for Kansas City mayor Sly James and founded B Squared Civic consulting firm last year.
Bennett presented possibilities for electronic informational kiosks, which would offer an interactive experience for visitors and potentially a source of revenue via advertising and sponsorships of the kiosks. An investigational program is expected to be rolled out in Topeka, Kan. and in Parkville next year to test the kiosks, some of which may include electric vehicle charging stations. Kiosks may be installed near the farmer’s market and near the parks building at English Landing Park. Later, the kiosk program could be expanded to Parkville Commons, the Creekside area and other places in the city.
Existing similar models in the Kansas City area are in downtown KC, along the streetcar line and in the Power and Light District.
Alderman Marc Sportsman questioned control of the advertising on the kiosks, as it would not benefit Parkville to advertise a Kansas City restaurant. Bennett said the contract includes controls to allow the city to choose only Parkville-based advertisers, along with national advertisers. The University of Missouri Kansas City holds to a similar contract, allowing only advertisers within five miles of the campus.