Evergy Plaza wins Downtown Achievement Award of Excellence

The International Downtown Association recently recognized Downtown Topeka Inc. and its local partners with a Downtown Achievement Award of Excellence for their efforts to stand up and promote Evergy Plaza.

The award – which was handed out following review and deliberation by a jury of peer professionals – acknowledges an excellent response to an urban-place-management challenge and superb application of industry knowledge.

Evergy Plaza was among 24 qualified entries in the category of Public Space Management and Operations, which the International Downtown Association identifies as one of seven professional urban place management practice areas. This category features unique organizational approaches and projects in the areas of clean, safe and hospitality; placemaking and activation; and facilities management.

“We’re honored to be recognized by an international organization for our hard work here at home,” said Rhiannon Friedman, president of Downtown Topeka Inc. “The effort to make Evergy Plaza a reality was truly a team effort, and it’s been exciting to see the plaza come to life with festivals, concerts and community events. This project is already becoming a staple in our beautiful city and is bound to positively impact Topeka’s downtown corridor and beyond for decades to come.”

“Evergy Plaza is an extraordinary gathering place in our community,” said John Knight, plaza director. “Our team is working tirelessly to ensure the plaza remains a beacon of what is possible in Topeka and Shawnee County. This recognition from IDA affirms we are moving in the right direction.”

Evergy Plaza opened in summer of 2020 and, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, is already on track to host hundreds of events and programs each year. Evergy Plaza is the result a multi- million-dollar collaborative effort, which started in 2014, to bring an exceptional community gathering place to downtown Topeka. It is also representative of what true public-private partnerships can accomplish.

“Downtown Topeka has demonstrated skillful application of urban place management principles with their project, Evergy Plaza,” said David Downey, IDA president and CEO. “Evergy Plaza should serve as a framework to all member communities within IDA.”