One of Wichita’s biggest attractions to temporarily close

The Keeper of the Plains – one of Wichita’s most recognizable spots – will temporarily close for upgrades and repairs.

The Keeper of the Plains statue was created by Kiowa artist Blackbear Bosin and stands at the confluence of the Arkansas and Little Arkansas rivers.

It will be closed late next week or the week of Oct. 10, according to the city of Wichita. It is slated to reopen in December.

During the project, sections of the Keeper plaza will be inaccessible to visitors.

The upgrades and repairs include:

▪ Addition of new fire sensors.

▪ Addition of log retaining features along pathways to control erosion of mulch and curtail “walk-thru” by visitors.

▪ Addition of custom steel “fence” barriers to replace the chain barriers and improve visual aesthetics to the fire pots and fountain area.

▪ Additional signs to encourage visitors to remain on paths.

▪ Stone pavement repairs and additions.

▪ Lighting and electrical upgrades.

2014 was the 40th anniversary of Bosin dedicating his artwork to the city of Wichita. The Keeper of the Plains became the logo of Wichita’s Convention and Tourism Bureau in 1980 and of Sedgwick County in 1982. Smaller replicas of the Keeper now stand in Wichita’s sister cities in France and Mexico.

This story was originally published September 30, 2016 at 4:54 PM with the headline "One of Wichita’s biggest attractions to temporarily close."