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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
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. Construction is anticipated to occur in 2020.
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. A bid letting will occur in May 2020 with construction to begin soon after. This project will complete the 8-foot paved trail around City Park.
UPDATE: The trail project was mostly funded through a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) fund. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, those funds were redirected to assist with the community response. Once an alternative funding source is identified, the project will bid at that time.
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 identified 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. In regards to the lighting, the project has been pushed to the end of 2020 and may be phased in due to funding.
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
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 2022 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 are planned for 2021 utilizing Community Development Block Grant funds.
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. Additional work may occur occur along the levee further west to South Manhattan Avenue Ave.
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 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, 12 pickleball courts, indoor turf, an elevated walking track, multi-purpose classroom, and fitness program space. Construction at the Anthony Middle School site has begun. Construction at the Eisenhower Middle School site is expected to begin in May 2020. Both facilities will open in 2021.
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: