Civil Municipal - June 2024

can be.” It is this proactive approach, combined with forward-thinking initiatives, that makes Great Bend an attractive home for families and businesses alike. COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENTS Logan Burns, the Assistant City Administrator, highlights the city’s ongoing plans for infrastructure improvements and recreational facilities. With projects like the revitalization of Main Street, the installation of a new splash pad, the completion of a skatepark, and the lighting of walking trails at Veterans Memorial Park, Great Bend is investing heavily in its community spaces. Burns notes that these initiatives are the results of a Quality of Life Sales Tax that was approved by the community several years ago. “What that did was start a capital improvement plan for various degrees of projects, some of the ones that are low hanging fruit, and then mid-sized projects, as well as higher dollar projects such as the splash pad,” he shares. “We’re also looking at doing a project at Brit Spaugh Park that includes playgrounds, a park shelter, food truck parking, basketball courts, pickleball courts, as well as some mini pitch courts as well. So that’s something that we’ll be bringing back to council for their consideration.” Currently, Great Bend is initiating a Parks Master Plan, which will help to create a vision for the future of the community and guide further improvement efforts. Anderson stresses, “Those quality of life projects are focused on healthy lifestyles, healthy living, trying to get people out and active.” In addition to continuous upgrades to water and sewer infrastructure, the city is partnering with the Kansas Department of Transportation on a possible alternative transportation grant, which will be used towards making the downtown ADA-compliant, creating a user-friendly area of the community for alternative modes of transportation.“Hopefully that grant will come to fruition,” remarks Anderson. The city is also hoping to take advantage of a Safe Streets and Roads For All Grant through KDOT. “We’ll be looking at that, figuring out exactly what projects can check those boxes. We are trying to capitalize on some grant opportunities and monies that are 65 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 06 GREAT BEND, KS