Key Takeaways of Immerse Phase of Downtown Wichita Action Plan
Downtown Wichita is entering a new era. Building on more than $1.7 billion in investment since the launch of Project Downtown in 2010, the community is once again coming together to shape the next 10 years through the Downtown Wichita Action Plan (Action Plan), a shared vision for a more vibrant, connected and inclusive urban core.
Led by national urban planning and design firm Sasaki, in partnership with community engagement experts and local design professionals, the Action Plan focuses on creating a people-centered downtown that celebrates Wichita’s history, culture and potential.
What We’ve Learned So Far
We’ve heard from more than 540 Wichitans through open houses, surveys, pop-ups and stakeholder meetings. The findings from this Immerse Phase helped identify opportunities for downtown’s growth. Key insights include:
Living & Working: Housing demand is rising, but there’s a need for more diverse housing types and lifestyle amenities like a grocery store, retail and gathering spaces.
Urban Form: Downtown has significant redevelopment potential. Only 15% of the gross floor area is currently unutilized, and nearly half of the land is dedicated to surface parking lots.
Getting Around: Many residents are ready to walk and bike more, but the current street design heavily favors cars. There's an opportunity to rethink how we move through downtown.
History & Culture: Downtown Wichita’s rich cultural foundation is being elevated through plans to connect institutions, enhance wayfinding and activate spaces to foster creativity and exploration.
Landscape Systems: The Arkansas River and nearby cultural destinations offer significant potential, and future efforts will strengthen connections, increase shade, boost programming and create inviting “community living rooms.”
The project is now entering the Ideate & Iterate Phase, where early findings will be translated into bold design strategies and implementation frameworks. Emerging priorities include:
Connecting downtown to the river and celebrating the riverfront as a key cultural and recreational asset.
Activating the emerging biomedical corridor.
Reviving Old Town as a cohesive destination.
Developing cultural corridors like First Street’s “String of Pearls”.
Through this process, Downtown Wichita and Sasaki will explore ways to deliver both quick wins and long-term investments that benefit our city for years to come.
What’s Next? Your Voice Matters
The next Action Plan public house will take place on June 2, 2025, from 5 to 8 p.m. at TempleLive at Wichita Scottish Rite. This event will showcase initial design concepts and allow the public to offer feedback and help refine the vision. Mark your calendars and register here to join the conversation!
In addition to the open house, the Action Plan team will host a pop-up booth at Riverfest on Sunday, June 1, from 1 to 6 p.m. Community members can stop by to provide input on ideas to connect downtown to the river, ask questions and learn more about what’s next for Wichita’s urban core.
