New trails and other nature experiences are among the possible plans for a 3,000-acre park near Panasonic.
Johnson County Park and Recreation is asking for the public’s opinion during an open house Saturday as it works on plans for the park – the biggest in the county’s history.
The county wants to bring both new recreation activities and outdoor experiences to residents in the area while also preserving green space in a rapidly developing part of the county, spokesman Kellen Jenkins said.
The new master plan includes the existing 950 acres of Kill Creek Park in addition to new land.
About 2,000 additional acres of the former Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant property are set to be acquired by the county at no cost. As some residents have expressed concerns about how these plans will impact taxes, the county wants to make it clear that the land is coming to them for free, but there will be costs associated with developing and planning the park, he said.
The project is in its early staging, and the county is working with planning consultant Stantec Consulting. It’s exciting to be able to share more with the public and begin incorporating opinions and feedback from the community, Jenkins said.
The county has received portions of the land, but other parts are still being cleaned up by the Army to meet residential standards, Executive Director Jeff Stewart said. The land is being transferred as part of the federal lands to parks transfer program, Stewart said.
Saturday will be the public’s first chance to participate in an open house about the new master plan. The event will run from 10 a.m. to noon at Kill Creek Park Beach House at 11670 Homestead Lane in Olathe.
It will be a come-and-go event with people from Park and Rec, as well as planners from Stantec. There will be mock-ups of potential park plans and an opportunity for residents to share what they want in the park, Jenkins said.
For those who cannot attend Saturday, Jenkins said the county does plan on doing more open-house events in the future. People can also take the survey available here.
“This is a huge opportunity to really make an impact in that part of the county that will be felt for generations to come, so we’re excited to finally kick this off and invite the community to be a part of this and be a part of planning what will be a very exciting and very impactful development in that region,” Jenkins said.
Stewart said the existing Kill Creek Park portion will also be a part of the new master plan. Although nothing is set in stone since the process is in its beginning stages, Stewart said the new part will likely have historical components, prairie restoration efforts, stream corridors and forested areas, as well as other nature experiences.
Trails are also a high priority for many in the community, so that will likely be a major component as well, he said. Since the park will connect with the existing Kill Creek Park and Kill Creek Streamway Park, it will give the county more opportunity to connect those existing trails, he said. Stewart also said residents enjoy utilizing park shelters and playgrounds so the county will explore those popular amenities where appropriate, too, he said.
“I think this will – when it’s all received and we’ve done some improvements and it’s open for everyone to use – I think it’ll certainly be a major attraction for those in our community and those in the Kansas City community, really throughout the state and even in the region,” Stewart said. “I think there’s some great opportunities, great potential here.”
