Wichita suburb planning to revamp its only city park — and you can get involved
A well-loved park in a north Wichita suburb is getting a makeover, and it needs help from the community to see that happen.
Kechi Park, the suburb’s sole park, has been a staple for the community for years. But the aging equipment has needed a revamp for a while, said Lydia Hampton, who is the PR lead of Friends of Kechi Park and is leading fundraising with her husband, Conner Hampton.
“The playground at the park is older. … It’s very well-loved, which is a great sign. But when it comes to creating a space where all kids are welcome to come play, it’s not really ADA accessible,” Lydia said. “It just has a lot of opportunities to be refreshed for our modern community.”
Play by Design, a company that specializes in custom playgrounds for all abilities, created renderings for the new park after community members submitted comments on what they wanted from the playground. The renderings include replacing the majority of the equipment with ADA accessible, modern equipment for all ages, Lydia said.
“This will get the park the upgrade that it’s needed for a long time,” Conner said.
The purpose of this project is to revitalize the playground specifically, Lydia said. So while some people have brought up ideas like parking and a basketball court, that would have to come later.
“Right now, we’re starting with the thing, kind of front and center and most utilized at the park, and that’s the playground,” Lydia said.
After the renderings, the Kechi City Council approved $310,000 to go toward the makeover. Kechi City Administrator Matt Jensby called the park improvements a “big win” for Kechi in a city Facebook post.
“Our City Park plays a vital role in the quality of life for our residents,” Jensby said in the post. “The foresight of past and present City Council members to plan for these improvements, along with the dedication of our Park Board members, has made this moment possible. Families will come from all around to enjoy what we’re building – and I hope they see the greatness of our town and choose to call it home.”
But even with the city’s approved funds, around $400,000 is still needed for the park, so now the focus has shifted to finding funding and volunteers.
“We want every person in Kechi and as many people as possible to contribute to the playground build with either their time, their talent or their treasure,” Lydia said.
“The great thing about this project is that it’s community minded,” Conner said. “And so . . . that plan, requires the community to help build the park.”
Lydia said she hopes the park’s revamp will lead to more people enjoying the city overall.
“Although it is in the Kechi community … we do want it to be a place that people come to when they come through Kechi,” Lydia said. “Knowing this park is available and not that far away is a great thing for our community and for the businesses in Kechi to attract people to come visit.”
What are Kechi Park’s needs?
Friends of Kechi Park’s Facebook page has kept an ongoing photo album with the parks’ needs, asking for community members to sponsor certain components of the park.
Here are some examples:
- $10,000 for a volta spinner
- $9,000 for a contour slide
- $4,000 for a cradle net
- $20,000 for a custom tree house
- $4,000 for a luge slide
The photo album is updated whenever a piece of equipment gets sponsored. Lydia said they are working on finding a way to honor those who sponsored park equipment.
But money is not the only way community members can donate.
“Not only do we need financial contributions, we need people to show up during that (build) week to actually, you know, screw the screw into the slide and . . . all those things that it takes,” Conner said.
Build week is planned for June 8-14. Lydia estimates they will need about 53 volunteers per shift, with three, 4-hour shifts a day.
Volunteers can be 14 years of age or older, with a specific need for those skilled in construction. But if someone is not skilled in construction, Hampton said they are also looking for hospitality volunteers to help provide food and water to those working, as well as people to provide childcare.
Kechi City Park is at 442 N. Oliver Ave and is open from 5 a.m. to midnight every day.
“Kechi and the surrounding communities always rally around our kids,” Conner said. “And I know that. I know that people want this park to happen, and so I’m 100% confident that it will.”
Conner and Lydia have two kids, ages 3 and 6, and Conner said that the new park would be more friendly for children of all ages to play together.
“For our family, (it) gives the park updates that we truly needed, that allows my kids and all kids to play together,” he said. “I think that’s the most exciting thing.”
This story was originally published March 25, 2026 at 1:36 PM.
