People take pride in Sugar Creek
Sugar Creek is a small city with a strong identity just north of Independence and only 9 miles from downtown Kansas City. “Most people say, ‘Oh you live in Independence,’ but people here will correct you and say, ‘No I’m in Sugar Creek,’” says City Administrator Joseph Kenney, adding that residents refer to themselves as “Creekers.” A community of immigrants formed here in the early 1900s to work at the Sugar Creek oil refinery, and Creekers today retain strong ties to their Eastern European and working-class roots. The city still hosts a high density of industry, including cement plants and a gasoline terminal. “My granddad was one of the ones who came in the 20s to work at the refinery, my mom and dad stayed and raised us, so far my three kids still live here in town,” Kenney says. “I wouldn’t trade my upbringing or what I’ve done for my kids for anything.”
The Slavic Festival draws thousands
Thousands of people attend the Sugar Creek Slavic Festival each June. “People come from all over, but it’s kind of the homecoming weekend here,” Kenney says. The event started in the 1970s as a folk festival sponsored by St. Cyril’s Parish. It has grown into a weekend-long bash with food, live music and performances from kolo dancers, polka bands and other cultural acts. “We do a couple special things each year,” says Sugar Creek Mayor Mike Larson, who moved to the city in the 1980s. “Last year they did an actual, real, honest-to-goodness wedding based on how the Czech Slovaks did weddings back then.”
A simple commute to downtown Kansas City
Proximity to the urban core “is one of our sells,” Kenney says. “You can be in downtown Kansas City parked at your desk in 20, 25 minutes. That’s part of the reason people stay here through the years.” For many Creekers, the journey downtown starts on Highway 24. Road improvements are expected to be completed in spring 2024.
Expanding options for Sugar Creek dining
Creekers are loyal to their local haunts, which include Kross Lounge & Ernie’s Restaurant, serving classic comfort foods since 1945. Down the street, Sugar Inn is a biker bar that hosts frequent pool tournaments. Residents with a sweet tooth head to KEMA Sweets Bakery, where U.S. veteran and French-trained pastry chef Nancy Griego serves diverse treats and teaches community classes.
More businesses have invested in Sugar Creek in recent years, including a Dominos and an existing Taco Bell that moved to a more trafficked location. “Nobody asked for tax incentives or anything, they thought it was a cool place to be,” Larson says. The city is currently working with developers to attract more retailers. “The last new grocery store that was built in a 2- or 3-mile radius of us was probably in the 70s,” Kenney says. The Sterling Apple Market on Highway 24 is the closest option for many residents.
Recent refreshes for neighborhood parks
“The last few years we’ve done some updates to our parks,” Kenney says. Projects have included a new splash pad at Kaw Field, a new playground and updated facilities at several parks. “The coolest thing that we did was we added an 18-hole disc golf course to our LaBenite Park,” Larson says. LaBenite Park has riverside walking trails, a playground and boating access. Locals gather along the bank for the city’s Fourth of July fireworks show.
Greater affordability beyond the Kansas City limits
Most of the neighborhood's residences are concentrated in the southwest portion of the city, where a lot of the construction dates back to the 1950s. One- or two-bedroom investment properties can start as low as $45,000, though most homes in Sugar Creek range between $125,000 and $250,000. Homes hovering around $200,000 are typically renovated and have three bedrooms. Ranch-style builds are common, as are bungalows and historic Craftsman homes. Residential lots start at $12,000 for about a quarter of an acre.
Independence School District serves most students
The Independence School District serves most students in Sugar Creek. Kindergarten and first graders can attend Sugar Creek Elementary, which has a B-plus from Niche and a student-teacher ratio of 14:1, well below the national average. Kids head to C-plus-rated Abraham Mallinson Elementary through fifth grade, then Clifford Nowlin Middle, which gets a C. Van Horn High is just 2 miles away and has a C-plus.
The community organizes for clean water and air
The Amoco oil refinery closed in the 1980s, though Creekers are still wary of the potential health risks of local industry. In 2021, hundreds of community members successfully protested a proposed limestone quarry near LaBenite Park, garnering more than 2,500 signatures on a petition to local officials.
Photography Contributed By
Brooke Wasson
