Community Vision Drives Final Stage of Planning for Downtown Wichita Action Plan
The Downtown Wichita Action Plan (Action Plan) is one step closer to completion following the third and final Open House held on Aug. 27 at the Downtown Wichita office.
Nearly 200 community members attended the event, where they provided input on design concepts and development strategies shaped by earlier rounds of community feedback.
Large poster boards displayed bold concepts for how the area bounded by Washington Street, Murdock Avenue, Kellogg Avenue and Seneca could evolve over the next decade. Concepts included:
Living & Working: Expanding housing options with townhomes, apartments and mixed-use developments; supply and manage critical parking infrastructure to unlock development opportunities..
Urban Form: Enhancing streetscapes through greater accessibility, adding ground-level amenities and enjoying high-quality design in new developments.
Getting Around: Establishing a clear street hierarchy with corridors of development, greater bike route connectivity and a high-frequency transit loop that connects downtown points of interest.
History & Culture: Attracting a new performing arts center downtown, and developing a cultural loop with distinctive wayfinding and storytelling that celebrates Wichita’s heritage.
Landscape & Public Realm: Unlocking the full potential of the Arkansas River for waterfront recreation, entertainment and community gathering.
The boards also showcased proposed concepts that could transform key areas downtown:
Hospital District (South of Ascension Via Christi): A mixed-use area with ownership and rental housing, research facilities, dining, shops, grocery access and green space.
Biomedical Village (Transit Center Site): Housing, shops, parking, research and education facilities supporting Wichita’s growing biomedical corridor.
Mixed-Use Riverfront (1st & Waco Parking Lot): Riverfront dining, green space, and cultural facilities for waterfront entertainment.
Arena South (Parking Lots across Waterman): Dining, shops, a hotel and housing to strengthen connections and amenities around INTRUST Bank Arena.
River District (Century II/Convention Center Site): A reimagined riverfront with landscaped parks, retail kiosks, a new convention center and a repurposed Century II.
Wichitans’ top priorities identified in the planning process include greater connectivity among downtown districts, more ground-floor amenities to create a “full-service” downtown with grocery and shopping options, elevated urban design, including the Douglas Avenue streetscape, and, above all, activation of the Arkansas River as a destination for living, dining, recreation and culture.
With this final round of engagement completed, Sasaki and Downtown Wichita will now synthesize all community input into the Action Plan. The Action Plan is expected to be completed in October and will serve as a roadmap for the next decade of downtown development, ensuring Wichita’s urban core grows as a vibrant, connected and welcoming destination for all.
