The "Manhattan Optimist Club Bulletin": Vol. 2025 #31: 5-28-25

VOLUME 2025    MAY 28    NUMBER 31

First Vice President Kelly Karl welcomed the membership, guests, and Bill Wisdom shared a reflection. The flag salute followed.

Heather Peterson introduced Phil Anderson and Tracey Anderson, Anderson- Knight Architects, who have been working on the Manhattan Riverfront Project. Tracey Anderson shared the concept with the Optimist. Tracey began by thanking the Optimist for having them speak and for their long term support of Girls on the Run in the community.

He began with “Why the Riverfront and why now?” In 2017, a professor had her Landscape Architecture class at KSU do a project on how to connect the downtown to the Linear Trail and once you have access to the Linear Trail you have access to the river. From the 1951 flood event, the community protected itself from the flooding river with dikes and otherwise ignored the river. The river was also used to as the unofficial dumping grounds for Manhattan. The class project led to a community presentation in the fall of 2017 and started folks thinking about the potential of the riverfront area. A consultant, who did a lot of riverfront design work around the country, came to KSU to be the guest critiquer for the class design projects and while she was here, presented some of her own work. She also toured the riverfront and noted there was a wonderful opportunity for the community to utilize it as many other cities have done.

Riverfront MHK, a nonprofit, was created and raised some funds for a study of the potential of the riverfront area. COVID stopped the discussion for a time, but in 2021, discussions began again. They contacted MCLB, a firm composed of several KSU graduates in Kansas City, who have done some work on riverfront development including a project in Wichita, to do a study. The City was also doing a study of “Beyond Downtown Tomorrow” and the relocation of MCM concrete and redevelopment of the property, so the riverfront study was paused to include findings of those studies.

The goal was to create something so that people could visualize the possibilities and to get it adopted, at least to some extent in the City's Comprehensive Plan in some form so they could look for funding sources to begin execution of the plan. The plan includes the downtown studies, along the Linear Trail and across the river into the Fairmont Park area.

How do we connect with the river and how do we connect with Fairmont Park? They came up with three ideas. The biggest one is a pedestrian and bicycle bridge aligned with Poyntz Avenue which comes up and over Ft. Riley Blvd. and over the train tracks, over the levy, over the river and ending in Fairmont Park. It would also have a spur off to connect to the Liner Trail. Another concept is creating a connection from the Linear Trail to the K177 bridge, which already has a sidewalk. If MCM is relocated, there is a park in the plan that could connect to the Linear Trail. The idea is to create a space that is special and unique with attractive entry points. Perhaps a band shell that could attract musical performances for large groups, not at the scale of the Country Stampede, but smaller scale performances. A varied use park with camping, a disk golf course, a dog park, a board walk area, an ecological restoration zone, and other amenities would be included. Visitors would have easy access from the Linear Trail to the water on the west side so a visitor could go down to the water without having the cross the bridge. Additionally, a playground and a pavilion would be provided to host programs. There is also the possibility of a space for a permanent farmers' market as an extension of the mall.

Looking from above the MCM site looking at the bridge. A Battery Park off 4th Street connecting up to the Linear Trail.   Much of this area is actually already a park, Southeast Park, but is not maintained.

Multiple images for inspiration from other riverfront developments.

The project would need to be phased in smaller chunks. Each zone could be completed separately.

The proposed pedestrian and bicycle bridge is the biggest and most iconic piece of the concept proposal.

First Vice President Kelly Karl thanked the 13 Optimist members and family members who helped with the Bill Snyder Half Marathon: Jack Carlson, Tim Fairbanks, Karen Hawes and husband, Brad Horchem, Doug Jardine, Mark Locke, Sophie Manranville, Heather Peterson and Colbie, Clyde Scott, Bill Wisdom, and Greg Wurst. Also thanks to Bill Wisdom for coordinating the vests and equipment.

Kelly also reminded the group of the Optimist Musical Instrument Drive will be June 2nd through 7th.

Bruce Bidwell announced that Umpire slots for T-Ball have been filled, but they still need two supervisors for week four and five. The games start June 9th.

Bill Wisdom announced the fliers are out on the table for the Optimist Dime-a-Day program which supports the Optimist International Foundation. It is $36.50 per year and you get a “Really cool pin.”

Mike Fincham announced the Optimist will be handing out water at the Juneteenth BBQ contest at City Park on Friday, June 13th. Volunteers are needed to set up and hand out water. A sign-up sheet was on the tables. You also get to sample the BBQ.

GUESTS: Bruce Bidwell introduced David Adams, who had children in softball and purchased Christmas trees from the Optimist. Heather Peterson introduced Amber Stephenson, Manhattan Radiology, and Elizabeth Holle, Big Lakes, and our speakers, Phil Anderson and Tracey Anderson, Anderson-Knight Architects. Cherie Hoffpauir also returned.

Meeting adjourned with the Optimist Creed.

JUNE 4: MORNING MEETING: Program: Katherine Hensler – Dock Dogs Diving: Topic: “3rd Annual Dock Dogs Diving Contest”

JUNE 11: NOON MEETING: Program: Annual Flag Day Celebration at Optimist Park: Topic: “Flag Day Celebration (with catered lunch)”

JUNE 18: MORNING MEETING: Program: Trase McQueen, KSU Researcher on Memory and Aging: Topic: “Memory and Aging Research”

JUNE 25: NOON MEETING: Respect for the Law, RCPD Officer Recognition: Topic: “Respect for the Law”