© 2024 KMUW
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Next Step In Riverfront Planning Schedule: 'Urban Explorations'

Hugh Mason
/
Wikimedia Commons
Community leaders are discussing a redevelopment plan along the Arkansas River downtown.

The second round of community engagement events for the Riverfront Legacy Master Plan process is next week.

The Urban Explorations events on Sept. 24-25 provide a chance for Wichitans to take part in a walking tour along the riverfront and learn about some of the proposed plans and ideas the design committee is discussing. A question-and-comment session will follow each tour.

Susie Santo is president of Visit Wichita and a member of the planning committee. She says community interaction and feedback is essential to help the plan move in the direction that Wichita wants. 

“We are being purposeful about giving a ton of ways to engage and to reach all corners of our community and to be really inclusive,” she said.

The Riverfront Legacy Master Plan is a coalition of Wichita organizations combining efforts to undertake development and revitalization of the downtown area along the east bank. The effort is in conjunction with the construction of the new baseball stadium on the west bank of the Arkansas River.
 
Downtown Wichita has seen many changes recently. Santo says this is an exciting time for redevelopment because it's uncommon for so much revitalization to occur in one area, especially a prime spot for tourism and revenue opportunities.
 
Previous downtown redevelopment efforts, like Project Wichita, have garnered community feedback. Santo says the preliminary community engagement events for Project Wichita have provided a starting point for the Riverfront Legacy Master Plan.

“Through Project Wichita, over 14,000 individuals shared their vision and ideas for Wichita," Santo says. "We learned a lot there.”

The dates and locations for the Urban Explorations are:

  • Tuesday, Sept. 24, 5 and 6:30 p.m. Meet at the east connecting lobby at The Jester statue between Bob Brown Expo Hall and Century II. Public parking is available on the east side of the buildings. Handicapped parking is available on the west side of Century II
  • Wednesday, Sept. 25, 7:30 a.m. and noon. Meet in the Riverview Ballroom in the Hyatt Regency, 400 W. Waterman. Surface parking is available just south and east of the main entrance of the hotel.

Mya Acosta is an intern in the KMUW News Lab.