One of Wichita’s most famous landmarks is getting some upgrades.
The Keeper of the Plains will undergo several renovations to improve accessibility and safety. The 44-foot steel statue stands at the confluence of the Big and Little Arkansas Rivers and is the site of a nightly fire show.
The City of Wichita says improvements to the attraction include new fire sensors, some pavement renovation and added signage to encourage visitors to stay on the path. The project, set to start within the next two weeks, will cost about $108 thousand dollars and should be completed in late December.
Parts of the grounds surrounding the statue will be sectioned off during construction, but officials with the city say the fire show will still take place nightly.
The Keeper of the Plains was built in 1974 by Native American artist Blackbear Bosin. It was a focus of a $20 million, 8-year renovation and "river beautification" project that ended in 2007.
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