This Wichita suburb plans $7M major ‘reimagining’ for historic park

Hap McLean Park in Park City could soon get new features, ranging from pickleball courts, a basketball court, sand volleyball court and amphitheater to a dog park, new play structure, cabanas and walking park, among other things, as part of what city officials are calling a major “reimagining” of the historic park.

The city will put out bid requests for the extreme makeover project on July 21, according to Assistant City Manager Dana Walden. The winning bid will be presented to the City Council for approval Aug. 25.

The project is estimated to cost approximately $7.4 million. It could take 12 to 18 months to finish everything once work begins, Walden said.

The park is on the northern edge of the suburb at 6801 N. Hydraulic.

McLean Park’s transformation is already under way. The city recently opened an aquatic center at the park featuring a splash pad, water slides, climbing wall and three distinct water areas at a cost of $7.5 million.

“McLean Park is our historic park,” Walden said. “It’s kind of a hub. There will be new things all over that park.”

What began in the 1960s as a small community center with basic park amenities has evolved into Park City’s premier outdoor recreation space. It already features everything from the new water park and an upgraded community center to an official BMX track, 18-hole disc golf course and Little League baseball fields. All of those amenities are expected to stay.

The park, which recently grew by 29 acres thanks to a city land purchase, also includes an 80-foot-by-120-foot roller skate rink, skate board park, covered shelters and playground areas, according to the city’s website and Walden, who said those features will remain as well.

The park has five baseball fields. Walden said the ball field at the front of the park will be removed to make room for new amenities. She said a field may be added to the back of the park, but not all the details have been worked out yet.

Park City’s local-option sales tax, which went into effect in 2023, has helped the city pay for the new aquatic park and upgrades to the rest of the park, among other things.

Walden said the city is making good on promises to voters who approved the sales tax increase. Property taxes have been mitigated, roads have been improved, walking paths have been added and the aquatic park has opened. Now park improvements are about to begin.

Park City has eight parks, and Walden said all of them will get upgrades in the years to come.

Park City could see an even bigger boost from the local-option sales tax next year and beyond thanks to an agreement that Gilley’s Gambling Hall recently signed with Kustom Entertainment to bring at least six music festivals, including Country Stampede Kansas, to Gilley’s.

Those events are estimated to bring an additional 200,000 visitors a year to Park City, Stan Ross, chief executive officer of Kustom Entertainment, said during a June 10 press conference at Gilley’s announcing the multi-year agreement.