Two bronze head sculptures wearing swimming goggles currently stand nearby the site, paying homage to the Kilmarnock Water being situated underneath.

The demolition of the eastern side of King Street was criticised in a report commissioned by East Ayrshire Council for the effect it had on the historical and architectural heritage of the area.

[8] At one point, King Street was home to notable businesses, including Lauders (later House of Fraser in 1972, before closing in 2002), Woolworths, Granton's, Cable's Menswear, Clarks, the Royal Bank of Scotland, Lamont & Co Ltd, Robertson & Davidson's, G. & W. Morton's and Lewis's.

[17] The Town Improvement Trust proposed for a new wider and direct access route to both streets, with the project being planned by Willian Railton, an architect from Kilmarnock.

[20] During the 1970s redevelopment of the area which saw the introduction of a one way system traffic flow around Kilmarnock town centre, Duke Street was demolished in its entirety.

The Burns Mall Shopping Centre was later constructed on the site of the former Duke Street, with the original line of Duke Street remaining through the shopping centre in order to link the pedestrian underpass situated at the Palace Theatre to the Kilmarnock Cross.