Topeka Riverfront Advisory Council Seeking Community Input Through Public Engagement Session This Month At Great Overland Station

On the heels of a month-long survey informing the Topeka Riverfront Activation Plan, Topeka’s Riverfront Advisory Council (RAC), alongside consulting partner Bolton & Menk, is holding a Topeka Riverfront Plan Open House on Tuesday, May 21 from 6-8 p.m. at Great Overland Station, 701 N. Kansas Ave. The public-engagement session will include a brief presentation at 6:30 p.m., followed by opportunities to provide feedback on concept designs.

Initial survey results from community members indicated 74% of respondents think the Kansas River running through Topeka is an untapped resource. Taking survey results and community feedback into account, Bolton & Menk refined and presented three riverfront concepts to the RAC. Guided by these concepts, the RAC is now engaging the public and various stakeholders to create a river development plan that will shape future efforts.

“The May 21st open house is another step forward in our journey to reimagine Topeka’s riverfront property,” said Greg Schwerdt, RAC chair. “I hope community members turn out to make their voices heard, as we hone in on the concepts and ideas that will be most needed and beneficial in Topeka and Shawnee County.”

“We appreciate everyone who took our riverfront survey around the start of the year, and we look forward to hearing more great perspectives in person this month,” said Ashley Gilfillan, director of river strategies for the Greater Topeka Partnership. “Public input is crucial in determining how Topeka’s riverfront should be transformed, and we’re committed to taking community members’ ideas into account when drafting the final Riverfront Activation Plan later this year.”

For more information on the Topeka Riverfront Activation Plan, its timeline and how you can get involved, visit MyTopekaRiverfront.com.