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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.
We appreciate community involvement and participation in the development of all our projects.
Parks
Warner Park Master Plan
Since the City acquired Warner Memorial Park, several master plans (1966, 1978, 1987, 1992, 2002) have recommended changes to the Park. The City of Manhattan staff in 2002 prepared the most recent 10-year master plan. In 2015, a review of the Park was completed as part of the Parks and Recreation Strategic Facility Improvement Plan (SFIP). The SFIP agreed with the 2002 master plan that the Park should remain a natural area. The SFIP also recommended an updated Park master plan to investigate passive recreation opportunities.
To learn more about this project, please visit the Park Master Plan page.
Ledgestone Park Grading Project
In 2010, the City of Manhattan acquired 5.1 acres of right-of-way for construction of Miller Parkway, parkland, related utilities, and sidewalks. At that time, water lines were installed and road base constructed for the future Miller Parkway extension to Scenic Drive. Approximately 50,000 cubic yards of rock excavation from the waterline project was placed on this site. The City has used this rock as fill material for a variety of projects throughout the city, and approximately 11,000 cubic yards remained on the park site on the south side of Miller Parkway. In 2015, a portion of this land was incorporated into Roger Schultz Community Park.
In 2016, the City acquired 15 acres of parkland on the north side of Miller Parkway, west of the rock pile location. This land is now called Ledgestone Park. The Roger Schultz Park Master Plan, adopted by the City Commission in 2018, recommended the south end of Ledgestone Park be developed as a level, grassed open space for neighborhood recreation. Late 2017, Schwab-Eaton, P.A. was hired through the City's on-call engineering process to develop preliminary engineering drawings for both Schultz and Ledgestone Park sites. Schwab-Eaton finalized construction plans in early 2019. Plans call for rock fill from the Roger Schultz Park to be placed on the Ledgestone Park site. The fill will be used to create a two-acre open space in Ledgestone Park and make a similar two-acre open space in Schultz Park. Both sites will also receive topsoil and be seeded with the project that was awarded to Bayer Construction, Inc., of Manhattan, Kansas. The project is scheduled for completion by May 2019.
Roger Schultz Community Park
Loma Ridge Improvements: Phase 1
The Loma Ridge park entrance is close to many homes and is already being used to access existing park trails. This project, scheduled for late 2019, will include a gravel parking area, stormwater management features, fire department access, and rough grading of the site for future phases. These improvements will enhance park access and prepare the site for future park amenities.
Playground resurfacing to occur in May and June
Manhattan Parks and Recreation will be resurfacing playgrounds from mid-May through June. Playground closure schedule will be:
• Northview Playground May 20 - 24
• Northeast Playground May 27 - May 31
• Goodnow Playground June 3 - 7
• Anneberg Playground June 10 - 21
The repair schedule is weather dependent, and if dates change, we will notify the public as soon as possible. If you have any questions about this project, please email Alfonso Leyva, Park Planner, or call the Parks and Recreation office at 785-587-2754.
City Park Update
The updates to City Park have been delayed due to recent wet weather. We are working on finishing the following updates on or before May 20:
* Painting of the Splashpark
* New flooring in the public restroom
* Resurfacing of City Park Playground
If you have questions about this project, please email Casey Smithson, Parks Superintendent or call our office at 587-2754.
The Johnny Kaw Plaza is under construction, and anticipated completion is expected by the end of June.
Northeast Park Irrigation & Lighting
The Strategic Facility Improvement Plan identified park lighting and irrigated soccer field turf as priority projects for Northeast Community Park. The City is working with Schwab-Eaton, P.A. and Orazem Scalora Engineering to design irrigation and lighting improvements.
VMI Land Tract
The City of Manhattan acquired this 99-acre site on the side of Highway K-18 in April 2019. The City envisions using the land for open space and trail connectivity in the southwest part of the community. A master plan study to determine additional uses and park amenities will occur in the future.
Trails
Linear Trail: South Manhattan and Pecan Circle Railroad Crossings
Railroad crossings on South Manhattan Avenue and Pecan Circle make access to the Linear Trail difficult. Manhattan Parks and Recreation and the Public Works Department are working with Union Pacific Railroad to add safe trail crossings at these locations. The project is currently being reviewed by UPRR.
Linear Trail - Multi Year Levee Project
Linear Trail, the City's longest trail, will be impacted by a US Army Corps of Engineers' project to improve Manhattan's levee system. Survey of the levee's right of way has started and will be ongoing. The survey crews that will be doing the work are employees of the Corps of Engineers.
The intent of this project is to raise the levee along the Big Blue River from the intersection of Casement Road and Hayes Drive, south to the confluence of the Kansas River and Big Blue River, and wrap around upstream to just west of the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) facility.
When the project is completed, the levee will increase the level of protection from flooding events along both the Blue and the Kansas rivers, as well as replace several structures and equipment along the levee that were installed with the original project in the early 1960's.
Construction for the project could begin as early as 2020 and is estimated to be completed by 2024. Linear Trail will remain on top of the levee and access to certain portions of the trail may be restricted during the construction phase.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email Brian Johnson, P.E. City Engineer or contact him by phone at 785-587-2415.
Facility Improvements
Douglass Recreation Center (formerly SENREC)
To learn more about the proposed Douglass Recreation Center and current information about this project please visit the Douglass Recreation Center page.
Community/Middle School Recreation Centers
Two indoor recreation centers are in the planning and design phase of construction. One each at Anthony and Eisenhower Middle Schools. Amenities include:
- 30,000 to 40,000 square feet each
- 3-4 multi-purpose gymnasiums to accommodate drop-in public use, basketball, volleyball, pickleball, soccer, kickball, softball, baseball and many other activities, programs and events
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 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 has worked for several years to raise funds and awareness of the Johnny Kaw statue located in City Park. In February of 2019, a groundbreaking was held for the Johnny Kaw Plaza. The Plaza will provide areas for seating, increased lighting, and enhanced landscaping. Signage will provide education about the legend of Johnny Kaw. To learn more about the Friends of Johnny Kaw please visit the https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofJohnnyKaw/. To learn more about the history of Johnny Kaw you can visit the City Park page.
Construction is now underway. The plaza is anticipated to be complete by early summer.
Project Rendering of the Johnny Plaza
Learn more about Johnny Kaw by clicking the image 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 will be nestled into an existing rock outcrop above the MANHATTAN letters. Construction is expected to begin in Summer 2019.
To learn more about the project view an overall presentation by clicking this image below:
Kiwanis Viewing Platform Project Presentation