Educational Engagement Engaging students in the development of Wichita’s urban core continues to be a priority for the Downtown Wichita organization. In 2017, the organization sponsored a landscape architecture design studio in partnership with Kansas State University. The class worked with the joint City of Wichita and Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Commission (MAPC) and the Delano community on a neighborhood plan for the district, which is adjacent to the main Downtown core. The two key areas of focus were the riverfront and the commercial area along Douglas Avenue. Students gathered data and analyzed existing conditions as foundational elements for urban design concepts. Teams then met with Delano district stakeholders and received feedback for these initial concepts. The design concepts, titled “Delano’s Turn,” were presented at a public open house. This student work and data has been used as a baseline for the MAPC staff who began a formal update to the Delano Neighborhood Plan in the fall of 2017. A steering committee comprised of area stakeholders are currently working with MAPC staff members to finalize a plan for the next 15-20 years for this important Wichita neighborhood. D O W N T O W N 3 8