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Park Projects
The projects below are current projects in development with Manhattan Parks and Recreation. To learn more about each project, please visit the project pages. If you have questions or would like to provide feedback we encourage you to contact Assistant Director, Wyatt Thompson, or contact Park Planner Alfonso Leyva . You may also call Manhattan Parks and Recreation at 785-587-2754.
For a self-guided tour of recent MHKPRD projects in the community, follow this link.
We appreciate community involvement and participation in the development of all our projects.
Trails
Trail Conditions
View this map to see the current status of Manhattan Trails.
Linear Trail - Multi-Year Levee Project
Linear Trail will be closed for construction from South Manhattan Avenue to the Blue River Access Area (US-24 Boat Ramp) starting February 1, 2022. The Linear Trail from the Blue River Access Area north to Casement Road at Hayes Drive will also close later this spring. Linear Trail will remain closed until spring 2024 to allow for completion of the Manhattan Levee project. The Linear Trail system will be restored and reopened at the completion of the project. During construction, access to the parking lot and boat ramp at US-24 will remain and Linear trail will remain open from South Manhattan Avenue to the west.
The project, administered by the The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), will substantially enhance the reliability and structural integrity of the Manhattan Levee system and increase the level of protection from flooding events along both the Big Blue River and Kansas River. The project will raise the height of the levee and replace structures and equipment along the levee that were installed with the original project in the early 1960s.
Questions regarding the Manhattan Levee Project and trail closures can be directed to Bill Heatherman at bill.heatherman@cityofmhk.com.
Information about alternate biking and walking trails can be found at https://cityofmhk.com/1716/Bike-Maps.
Facility Improvements
Douglass Activity Center
The Douglass Activity Center opened in March 2021. To learn more about the Douglass Activity Center please visit the Frederick Douglass Recreation Complex page.
Anthony and Eisenhower Recreation Centers
The Anthony Recreation Center opened on May 21, 2021. The Eisenhower Recreation Center opened on September 26, 2021. These new 48,000 square foot indoor recreation centers are located next to Anthony Middle School and Eisenhower Middle School. Two multi-purpose gymnasiums at each location accommodate public use and USD 383 activities, including drop-in play, practices, programs, and tournaments. Amenities at each site include 4 basketball courts, 5 volleyball courts, 8 pickleball courts, indoor turf, an elevated walking track, concessions, and multi-purpose classrooms. Construction at both facilities began in 2020.
To learn more about the facilities, visit the Anthony Recreation Center page or the Eisenhower Recreation Center page.
To learn more about the design process please visit the Sales Tax page.
Supporting Studies & Documents
Facility Feasibility Study
The Parks and Recreation Strategic Facility Improvement Plan provides a comprehensive look at Manhattan’s recreation facilities and programs. The plan evaluates existing indoor and outdoor recreation facilities, assesses the community’s needs for improved places to play, and proposes strategies to enhance existing (or possibly build new) sport courts, fields, and gyms from which the entire community will benefit. The Strategic Facility Improvement Plan was accepted by the City Commission on August 18, 2015. We are pursuing the Plan’s top priorities including three new indoor recreation facilities and improvements to ball fields and tennis courts at CiCo Park as recommended in the Parks and Recreation Facility Feasibility Study.
Community Organization-Led Projects
Johnny Kaw Plaza - City Park
The Friends of Johnny Kaw, a group of community citizens worked for several years to raise funds and awareness of the Johnny Kaw statue located in City Park. Construction of the Plaza was completed in September 2019, and includes limestone benches, lighting, and landscaping. Signage that tells the story of Johnny Kaw was added in 2020. To learn more about the Friends of Johnny Kaw, visit https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofJohnnyKaw/. To learn more about the history of Johnny Kaw, visit the plaza or click the image of Johnny Kaw below.
Bluemont Hill Scenic Overlook
The Bluemont Hill Scenic Overlook is a project of the Manhattan Kiwanis Club. For over 91 years, this club has maintained the iconic MANHATTAN letters on Bluemont Hill. For several years the club has worked to raise over $70,000 to create an ADA-accessible viewing platform. The platform, nestled into an existing rock outcrop above the MANHATTAN letters was completed in November 2019.
To learn more about the project, view an overall presentation by clicking this image below:
Parks
Roger Schultz Community Park
Loma Ridge Improvements Phase 1 is currently in design. The Loma Ridge park entrance is close to many homes and is already being used to access existing park trails. This project will include a gravel parking area, stormwater management features, fire department access, sidewalks and trails, native landscaping, and rough grading of the site for future phases. These improvements will enhance park access and prepare the site for future park amenities. In 2020, the City applied for a Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Grant to help fund these improvements. The City is awaiting notification of award from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and the National Park Service. Designs are currently being finalized and construction is anticipated to occur in 2022, pending funding availability.
UPDATE: This project was awarded the LWCF grant in late 2022. City staff will finalize construction plans in early 2023 and begin construction in late summer 2023. The project will be complete by the annual Red Cedar Holiday Harvest in December 2023.
Twin Oaks Playground
The playground at the Frank Anneberg Park Twin Oaks Complex has drainage issues that will be corrected this winter. The playground will be closed from December 2022 through March 2023 as a new drainage system is installed to better serve the young patrons of the Twin Oaks playground.
Sojourner Truth Park Playground
A recent neighborhood survey concerning the Sojourner Truth Park expressed the local residents desire to upgrade the playground. City Staff is working on a plan to upgrade a few play structures and the surface material. The playground will be closed in the near future for these upgrades. Please stay tuned to our social media outlets for more information.
Longs Park Playground
The Longs Park Playground will be closed in January 2023 for the replacement of surface padding material. This closure should only be for one week, but it may take longer depending on the weather. Exact closure dates will be released in the near future.