Downtown Wichita is more than just the center of the city, it’s the heartbeat of the community. A thriving downtown attracts talent and businesses, spurs innovation and serves as a gathering place where people come together.
What is the Downtown Wichita Action Plan?
The Downtown Wichita Action Plan (Action Plan) was developed to help shape the future of Downtown Wichita and ensure the next decade reflects the distinct spirit of Wichita and its residents.
The Action Plan updated the 2010 Project Downtown master plan, which provided an aspirational vision and deliberate strategies for public- and private-sector investment. The 2010 development blueprint helped drive $2 billion in completed investment and created a project pipeline of more than $800 million.
The updated plan focused on attracting development and cultivating strong place identities by amplifying cultural assets, strengthening connections between neighborhoods and encouraging strategic, well-designed urban infill. The process established a roadmap to support Downtown Wichita and the Greater Wichita Partnership’s continued work to cultivate a vibrant, clean and safe core that enhances quality of life and attracts talent for years to come.
Our Team
Sasaki, a global urban planning and design firm, served as Downtown Wichita’s project partner for the Downtown Wichita Action Plan. The project team included a roster of best-in-class firms specializing in design (MCLV), real estate and economics (Ideas & Action), walkability (Speck Dempsey), place identity (Public Sphere Projects) and community engagement (Parson + Associates). Together, the team helped inform the vision and 10-year implementation roadmap for the continued revitalization and transformation of the city’s core.
Community Engagement
Community input was essential to shaping the Downtown Wichita Action Plan. Throughout the planning process, residents and community members were invited to share their vision, priorities and ideas for Downtown Wichita through public open houses, pop-ups at local events and online surveys.
The engagement process was designed to gather perspectives from people of all ages and backgrounds, helping ensure the final plan reflected the community it was created to serve. Those ideas and priorities helped inform a shared vision and roadmap for Downtown Wichita’s next decade.
