Two state lawmakers and a steady stream of city residents came forward Thursday evening to share concerns with Wichita City Council members about what next year’s parks master plan might include.
“I’m here because of some rumors I’ve been hearing, and I’m here to ask you for help doing my job as a state senator,” Sen. Mary Ware, a Wichita Democrat, said at the special meeting. “I’ve been hearing that there is real consideration of dealing with the budget issues by selling off park land.”
Budget projections show the city’s general fund could face a combined $23 million shortfall over the next three years.
A plan to seek a consultant to author the master plan has not yet been finalized. During a budget presentation last month, Mayor Lily Wu said she would “like to challenge a reduction in the number of parks” to focus on investing in the ones that get the most visitors. The city has 146 park properties.
“If anything, we need more parks. We need more lush parks,” Ware said to enthusiastic applause from the nearly packed council chambers.
“Senator Ware, you’re probably very well aware from your position that rumors are often not true when it comes to policy,” council member Dalton Glasscock said, advising concerned citizens to review the meeting minutes if they’re confused about how the discussion went. Wu also defended her previous statements.
“I don’t believe that quantity equates quality. I believe in having better-quality parks,” Wu said.
“That was just one perspective from this council. It’s mine and mine only, and I did not say I was going to eliminate parks.”
David Bayouth said he was watching the Olympics on his couch earlier in the evening when he heard closing parks would be a topic of discussion at the budget hearing.
“I thought I would come up and put my two cents in for the need for us to maintain our parks here in Wichita and not cut back on parks,” Bayouth said. “From what I saw earlier with our expenditures on roads, it might make sense for us to close some roads and turn them into parks.”
Sharon O’Neil, who has lived in the College Hill neighborhood for more than 30 years, said people choose to live there because of the proximity to the park and the atmosphere it creates.
“Parks encourage play and create improved physical and mental health,” O’Neil said. “Research shows that money spent on parks is the most cost-effective way to lower long-term healthcare costs.”
Who will write the parks master plan?
Wichita’s 10-year capital spending plan includes $250,000 in 2025 for the updated parks plan. City Manager Robert Layton said the draft request for proposal will likely be completed in the next month.
“It may be that before it goes out, we have a joint meeting with the park board and the council unless you’re all on the same page after you see the draft,” Layton said. The scope of the RFP will address park use and funding challenges and opportunities, he said.
“The park director and I agreed that the previous planning efforts were done in a vacuum without looking at the city’s financial abilities, so this one we want to make sure is built around probably multiple financial scenarios,” Layton said.
Vice Mayor Maggie Ballard told Layton she would feel more comfortable if a local consultant took the lead on the master plan.
“Sometimes I struggle hiring people to come in and tell us what we want in Wichita. They don’t know Wichita,” Ballard said.
Layton said whoever authors the plan, it “will be steeped in what the public says they want to see from their park system.”
“In this case, we don’t know who we’ll select because we haven’t gone out and solicited proposals yet. I do want someone who can tell us what the best practices are,” Layton said, suggesting that a national and local consultant could partner on the project.
“I’m sure there’s somebody overly qualified here in Wichita that is able to apply for that RFP,” Ballard said.
State Rep. Silas Miller, a Wichita Democrat, said he’s still skeptical of city officials’ intentions with the new master plan.
“When the time comes, please do not close or sell our parks to any of your developer insider friends,” Miller said.
“Public green space is sacred and we need more of it, not less, regardless of profitability or sustainability.”
Former Republican City Council member Bryan Frye, who sits on the Wichita Parks Foundation and served eight years on the park board, told The Eagle continued investment in the parks system isn’t something that should be up for debate.
“Look what Exploration Place is doing. We’ve had success with our aquatics master plan and with Stryker [Sports Complex]. Those are jewels that create Wichita as a destination,” Frye said. “I think you need to continue to invest in those quality of life projects.”
Asked whether he would support efforts to privatize parts of the park system, Frye said he’s open to the idea.
“You always have to look at those things. You should always investigate, what are the opportunities to operate more efficiently? To generate more revenue. To create new opportunities,” Frye said. “I think you have to look at all those things.”
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