The City of Wichita working on big plans to improve a west side park.
On Tuesday, city council members will move forward with a possible splash park for Buffalo Park, located at Central and Maize.
“We have some exciting plans. We’re looking at enhancing the park with a splash pad, some new restrooms,” said Troy Houtman, Wichita director of parks and recreation.
Houtman said the master plan also includes extra sports fields, shelters and improvements to an existing baseball field. A theme would pay tribute to Kansas and the Great Plains.
There would be extra parking to accommodate visitors to the neighborhood, said Jeff Longwell, city council member.
Longwell said the project is budgeted at $1 million, but it could change based on bids for contractors. The money would be funded from the capital improvement budget; he said a project like this is already factored into those funds, so it wouldn’t cost taxpayers any money. City leaders are also applying for a $250,000 grant to help fund the concept.
Yet, some local students say they are concerned about what the park would mean for runners. One person tweeted, “We must protect our green space! Say NO!”
Another cross-country runner Tweeted, “please hear us about buffalo park. 300 cross-country kids use the park. 6 different schools.”
The messages caught the attention of Longwell and Houtman, who have met with some of the students. The students say they want to be sure that running paths are not touched. Longwell said he expects the outcome of the meetings to be positive, and there can be a improved park enjoyed by the 80,000 residents in west Wichita.
“We need to focus on the quality of life issues,” Longwell said. “I think that that will mean more for Wichita than some of the other things that we’re doing to help Wichita grow.”