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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.
Trails
Trail Conditions
View this map to see the current status of Manhattan 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. Both projects are currently on hold. The South Manhattan crossing will be addressed in the future as part of a proposed storm sewer system improvement in coordination with the City of Manhattan Public Works Department. Intersection and ADA improvements at Pecan Circle may be funded with Community Development Block Grants in the future.
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. 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. Additional work may occur along the levee further west to South Manhattan Avenue.
When the project is completed, the levee will increase the level of protection from flooding events along the Blue River and the Kansas River. The project will replace several structures and equipment along the levee that were installed with the original project in the early 1960s.
Construction for the project could begin in late-2021 and is estimated to be completed by 2024. During the construction phase, access to Linear Trail will be restricted. The trail will be rebuilt with the project and will re-open once construction on the levee is completed.
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 Activity Center
To learn more about the proposed Douglass Activity Center and current information about this project please visit the Douglass Recreation Center page.
Anthony and Eisenhower Recreation Centers
Two new 48,000 square foot indoor recreation centers are to be constructed next to Anthony Middle School and Eisenhower Middle School. Two multi-purpose gymnasiums at each location will accommodate public use and USD 383 activities, including drop-in play, practices, programs, and tournaments. Amenities at each site will 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. The Anthony Recreation Center opened on May 21, 2021. The Eisenhower Recreation Center is expected to open in September 2021.
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 has worked for several years to raise funds and awareness of the Johnny Kaw statue located in City Park. The Plaza is now complete and includes limestone benches, lighting, landscaping, and signage that tells the story of Johnny Kaw. 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, 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 Grant to help fund these improvements. Designs are currently being finalized and construction is anticipated to occur in 2022, pending funding availability.
City Park Playground
In 2020, the City of Manhattan CIP process approved the City Park Playground (CP214P) project. The City Park Playground project generally includes the removal and disposal of the existing 2-5-year-old composite play structure and the installation of a new 2-5-year-old composite play structure. The project also generally includes the manufacture recommended installation of artificial playground turf. The project is also requesting a bid alternate from the contractors. This bid alternate generally includes removal and disposal of the existing rope climber and installation of a new rope climber.
UPDATE: This project was awarded to Turf Etc. LLC dba Synlawn from Lee's Summit, Missouri. Construction will begin in late October or early November.
City Park Trail
In Fall 2019, the City contracted with BG Consultants to design the eastern portion of the Clarenburg Trail, which is located on the perimeter of City Park. This project will complete the 8-foot paved trail around City Park. The project was placed on hold during 2020 due to Covid-19. A bid letting and construction are anticipated to occur in 2021. Funding will come from Community Development Block Grants and the Recreation and Trails Sales Tax Fund.
UPDATE: This project was awarded to T&M Concrete Construction of Junction City, Kansas. Construction is set to begin on September 7th, 2021. This project should be complete by the end of November 2021.
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.
UPDATE: Construction documents were completed in 2019 for the irrigation aspect of the project. During the design process, it was determined that the project would cost more than was budgeted to install a full irrigation system in addition to regrading the site to properly drain. Completion of this project will depend on available funding sources in the following CIP years. The lighting project has been pushed to 2021 and may be phased in due to funding.
Anneberg Park Parking and Trail Repairs
On Labor Day 2018, Wildcat Creek flooded portions of the City, including areas within Anneberg Park. The City has been working with FEMA and the Kansas Department of Emergency Management to restore areas of the park damaged by the flood and mitigate the impact of future flooding. In 2020, the City hired Benesch to complete the design for a paved parking lot and three segments of trail near the creek and Dishman Lake. These improvements will mitigate the impact of future flooding. Construction is expected to occur in Fall 2021.
UPDATE: This project was awarded to Kolde Construction, Inc. of St. Marys, Kansas. Construction is set to begin on September 7th, 2021. Completion will occur before the end of the year.