Riverfront MHK Plan

Background Information and Community Feedback

At the same time as the Move MHK! planning process was occurring, a private coalition called Riverfront MHK was gathering input from key community stakeholders and raising funds to energize the idea of developing the Kansas River on the east and west banks adjacent to Downtown Manhattan. With the funds they raised, the coalition hired a private firm, MCLV, to facilitate conversations and produce a vision of how residents, visitors, and tourists could potentially access and engage with the riverfront.

City leadership, encouraged by the private efforts, challenged staff to partner with the groups to incorporate their work into a public planning process and plan. Since most of the study area is publicly owned land and envisioned as a park, with accompanying amenities and programming, it made sense for the plan to live under Move MHK!

The City invites you to review the Vision Plan (PDF) developed by MCLV to spark your ideas and generate comments on the potential development of the riverfront into a community asset. You can then leave a comment in the form provided on this page.

Important Dates

  • June 1-July 1: Community outreach via social media, MHK Insider newsletter, posters in the lobby of City Hall and Flint Hills Discovery Center during regular business hours, etc., will take place.
  • July 2: Community outreach via two sessions of an open house at City Hall, 1101 Poyntz Avenue
    • Noon to 1 p.m. in the City Commission Room
    • 6 to 7 p.m. in the City Commission Room
  • July 14: The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board reviews the Riverfront MHK Plan for consideration as an amendment to the Move MHK! Master Plan.
  • July 17: Manhattan Urban Area Planning Board (MUAPB) reviews the recommendation to amend by reference the Move MHK! Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan into the Manhattan Urban Area Comprehensive Plan.
  • August 5 (tentative): The City Commission reviews the MUAPB’s recommendation to consider amendment by reference the Move MHK! Master Plan into the Manhattan Urban Area Comprehensive Plan.