Wichita, Kansas has dedicated a new multi-use pathway known as the Midtown Bike Path. In a ceremony at Otis Park, city council-member Sharon Fearey, who supported the project since its inception, spoke:
“This is a great amenity for Midtown residents, especially children who walk to Park Elementary and Horace Mann Middle School, and for people who live and work in the Core Area,” Fearey said. “It’s a great complement to the River Corridor Improvements and downtown residential development.”
Built on abandoned Missouri-Pacific railroad right-of-way, the 10-foot wide path stretches 1.5 miles from Wichita Street & Central Avenue to 15th Street at Broadway. Features include:
- Victorian-style pedestrian lighting
- Brick columns and steel archways spelling out ‘Midtown’ at 15th & Broadway and at 8th & Wichita Street
- A plaza at Otis Park in the form of a railroad turntable
- Sunken planting beds (‘rain gardens’) at Otis Park and Park Elementary School (9th and Main Street)
- Benches, drinking fountain, trash receptacles, and bike racks also carry out the turn-of-the-century look of the path
The project got its start in late 2004 as a result of a grant for which the Historic Midtown Citizens Association applied. Nearly 80% of the $1.35 million project was funded by KDOT Transportation Enhancement Funds from that grant.
Read more: City of Wichita, Wichita Eagle, Cycling in Wichita, Coasters Bicycle Club. See also: Map of bicycle paths in Wichita
Post tags: Wichita
