Wichita parks to be repaired after summer storm damage. Here’s which ones

Four city of Wichita parks will be repaired after they were damaged by flooding over the summer.

Those parks needing repairs include Fabrique, Sleepy Hollow, East Cessna and West Meadows Park.

“To meet safety requirements, we have to go in and complete these changes to make sure that it’s safe for staff to make sure it’s operable for the community to actually use,” Park and Recreation Director Reggie Davidson told the City Council on Tuesday.

The parks were closed over the summer after intense rain washed away wood fiber surfacing and the underlying foam bases beneath playground equipment, compromising their safety, according to a city report.

The repairs are expected to cost $150,000, which the City Council approved at its Tuesday meeting.

The city’s parks department was able to find the funds for the repairs through $200,000 in savings from not having to irrigate as much during the summer – also due to the summer’s rain.

“While the storm caused significant damage, they also reduced irrigation needs across the park system,” Davidson said.

Council member Dalton Glasscock encouraged park staff to use the remainder of the savings – $50,000 – to replant trees that were uprooted during the summer storms.

“Another thing that was also affected by the storms, I think everybody knows, would be tree canopy,” Glasscock said. “If there is the opportunity to allocate the additional 50,000 toward that, that’d be something that I would be interested in, but I trust your expertise in that role.”

The parks are expected to reopen later this fall.

This story was originally published September 2, 2025 at 1:21 PM.