Kansas City ‘Heart Forest’ near KCI could open to public ahead of 2026 World Cup
By Alan Shope, Nick Sloan
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KANSAS CITY, MO (KMBC) — A group is working to restore what’s known as the “Heart Forest,” a heart-shaped grove of trees planted by volunteers decades ago just southwest of KCI.
The forest dates back to 1990, when volunteers planted thousands of trees that have since grown into a massive formation.
“All of a sudden, these trees that were this tall are now 50 feet tall,” said Brian Weinberg, executive director of the Foundation for Regeneration.
Weinberg said he first came across the Heart Forest online and decided to visit it in person.
After digging into its history, he learned it is believed to be the largest heart-shaped forest in the world.
Right now, the site is not open to the public, but that could soon change.
“It is not open to the public yet, but that’s exactly what we’re doing today. We want to fundraise about $100,000 in this next phase to be able to restore it and make it open so that people can come and enjoy the heart of America,” Weinberg said.
Crews have already started clearing and cleaning parts of the property. The goal is to have it ready in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, when Kansas City is expected to host visitors from around the globe.
Weinberg said the forest could serve as a symbolic first impression for travelers flying into the region.
“This is our welcome mat. We can show them who we really are. This Midwest heart spirit is really the impulse behind the entire project,” he said.
The forest spans more than 8 acres and includes more than 3,000 trees. Organizers hope to improve existing trails and turn the space into something closer to a public park.
“As you can probably see from the air, it looks like a heart, but it’s not a perfect heart shape, so we really want to reinforce the heart,” Weinberg said.
He said the project is about more than landscaping.
“Really, it’s that inspiring message of the heartland’s heart spirit,” he said.
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