Buck O’Neil Memorial Mural Revealed

Art in the Loop Board Members, Downtown & River Market CIDs, Downtown Council, MODOT and Sike Style celebrate new mural. (Photos courtesy of MODOT).

After a year in the making, the Buck O’Neil Memorial Mural, located at the south end of the Buck O’Neil Bridge at the intersection of Broadway Ave. and 3rd St, was revealed. Artist Phil “Sike Style” Shafer, the Missouri Department of Transportation District (MoDOT), the Art in the Loop team, Downtown Council, Downtown & River Market CIDs, and many Kansas City community members gathered at the site to celebrate this great accomplishment. 

Detail of mural.

The mural stretching over 4,000 square feet displays images of Buck O’Neil, various recognizable baseball symbols such as the Kauffman Stadium, the Monarch’s logo, among many more, and the quote “The greatest thing in all my life is loving you!”

Detail of mural.

The artist selection process was led by Art in the Loop and began in the Spring of 2024. As part of the selection process, a panel of artists, curators, and community members reviewed proposals from twenty-three local artists and selected four finalists to present their concepts.

Executive Director of Art in the Loop, Ann Holliday, stated that Sike Style was selected “based on his experience and his ability to blend historical significance with modern vibrancy while embracing the community and honoring Buck  O’Neil.” She also discussed the important impact of this mural on the surrounding community. “This mural will not only beautify and activate this area underneath the new Buck O’Neil Bridge but also serve as a powerful symbol of unity and progress,” She stated. For more on the artist, visit www.sikestyle.com.

“Buck O’Neil embodied the heart and soul of Kansas City. While his legacy plays on at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, projects like his new bridge and now this exciting artistic tribute, makes a generational connection that is tremendously important in our ongoing efforts to ensure that he will never be forgotten,” said Negro Leagues Baseball Museum President, Bob Kendrick.

The new Buck O’Neil Bridge was opened in late 2024. The new bridge is anticipated to last for 100 years or more and will require much less costly maintenance. It will provide direct connections from Interstate 35 to U.S. Highway 169, dedicated lanes to downtown Kansas City, a new bike/pedestrian lane, access improvements at the downtown airport, and a scenic overlook with benches.

“The completion of the bridge provides better connectivity to the entire region, as well as commuters and others driving on the city streets,” said James Pflum, MoDOT project director. “The unique opportunity to add a mural highlighting the legacy of Buck O’Neil and the community is a representation of the connection of transportation and art in real life, both designed to add to the betterment of those who use and see it every day.

Buck O’Neil is forever a Kansas City hometown hero, and Art in the Loop and MoDOT are elated they have the opportunity to honor him in this permanent way.

About the Missouri Department of Transportation

For more information about the Buck O’Neil Bridge Project, visit Buck O’Neil Bridge Design-Build Project | Missouri Department of Transportation.

About Art in the Loop Foundation

The Art in the Loop Foundation (AILF) is dedicated to enriching the cultural fabric of Downtown Kansas City by commissioning and celebrating contemporary public art. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, AILF fosters an inclusive and equitable art community that highlights the talent and diversity of local artists. For more information, visit www.artintheloop.com.

About the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (NLBM) is the world’s only museum dedicated to preserving and celebrating the rich history of African American baseball and its impact on the social advancement of America. The privately funded, 501 c3, not-for-profit organization was established in 1990 and is in the heart of Kansas City, Missouri’s Historic 18th & Vine Jazz District. The NLBM operates two blocks from the Paseo YMCA where Andrew “Rube” Foster established the Negro National League in 1920. To learn more about the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit nlbm.com.