Flowers on Douglas: Helping Downtown Wichita Bloom
By Emily Barnwell
If you’ve strolled down Douglas Avenue, you’ve likely noticed that downtown isn’t just growing, it’s in full bloom!
Flowers on Douglas, supported by Downtown Wichita, has become one of the city’s most visible and joyful signs of progress. What began as a simple idea has blossomed into a signature beautification effort that signals pride and possibility with every petal.
The project dates back to 2017, when local real estate leader Cindy Carnahan noticed an opportunity to add vibrancy to downtown’s main corridor. Inspired by the city’s newly acquired street planters, she stepped up to help bring some extra color to the core.
With help from partners, including Hein Lawn Service, Inc., and dedicated volunteers, the first pots were filled.
Why Flowers Matter
Beautiful streets aren’t just nice to look at; they’re economic development tools. Research consistently shows attractive, well-maintained environments:
- Encourage people to linger longer.
- Increase retail activity.
- Strengthen tourism appeal.
- Boost property values.
- Improve community pride.
In short: beauty drives vitality.
For a city focused on talent attraction, quality of life, and long-term competitiveness, Flowers on Douglas is doing serious work on the ground. They help signal that downtown Wichita is cared for, active and invested in its future.
By the Numbers
The scale of Flowers on Douglas today is impressive! There are currently 123 ground planter pots and 126 hanging baskets, totaling 12,085 flowers that are planted and maintained annually. That’s more than 12,000 reasons to smile downtown each year. :)
Continued support ensures the planters remain lush, colorful and inviting year after year. Click here to keep downtown blooming!