“Q Tell us about the visitors’ center project you are working on. How did the idea for a visitor’s center come about and how did you get involved in the project?
A The visitor’s information center-park concept came about several years ago when the state of Kansas identified the Flint Hills as a significant tourist attraction within the state. At that point they began to poll communities in and around the Flint Hills about locating an information center. That is where the initial idea came from. When KDOT announced that the interchange at the turnpike, I-35 and U.S. Highway 50 would be changed, we learned that some land could become available from KDOT to place such a structure. We hope to create a mini panorama of the Flint Hills complete with rolling terrain, native grasses and wildflowers and even a babbling brook. Within this setting we would like to have walking trails, and placed along the walking trails is where we would like to put the Prairie Passage Stones. It is our hope that this will give people from outside the community and inside as well an opportunity to learn more about the history of the area and some of its prominent citizens from the past. My involvement has been twofold. At first, this was a Convention and Visitors’ Bureau concept and at the time I was a member of the CVB Advisory Board. The current push is being made by the Building Futures Goal 8 Committee, which I am the chair of. We have a great group of volunteers working on this.
Q Where would visitors’ center be located and who would build and maintain the building?
A The park would be located just south of the new turnpike interchange and west of the new roundabouts. The first phase calls for walking trails, relocation of the Prairie Passage Stones and a parking lot. A building is something that would be a very long term project. Right now, money is tight all around. It would be extremely challenging to find the money to erect a building that would be suitable and attractive. Furthermore, even more difficult would be finding money to staff and maintain such a building. Betty Senn, who is really the brains behind our operation, and I have agreed from the outset that while having a building with restrooms and a gift shop of sorts would be fantastic in a perfect world, it would be very difficult to get it done right and keep the lights on. So while a permanent structure is something that we have discussed, it is not something that is very likely at this point in time. The details of our agreement with KDOT could also limit our ability to build something permanent.
Q How far along is the project?
A We are still very early in our project but we are making significant progress. It is very easy to get ahead of ourselves because Betty and I both like to dream big. We are currently still negotiating with KDOT on the terms of the land lease. Until we have a fair deal to have control of the land, there is little we can do other than begin to pool the necessary resources to make this happen.
Q Why is this project good for the community?
A I think there is a laundry list of reasons why this could benefit the community. First, we need to continue to enhance Emporia and how it is viewed both by our citizens and people visiting the community, even if they are only driving through. The park will be at a very focal entry point to the community. Lots of people get on and off the Turnpike every day, as well as come through town on Highway 50. The park could be something that people drive by and look at and perhaps stop, get out to stretch their legs or walk the dog. The piece of land is rather large and it is also our fear that if we don’t take this opportunity and run with it that the land could become an eyesore. The last thing we need is an overgrown, ignored piece of land on the front porch of town.
Q You have had one meeting with city commissioners updating them on this idea. What are some common questions or complaints you have been hearing that you feel need to be cleared up?
A First of all, there have been a lot of really good questions asked regarding the project, and rightly so. Obviously with the state of the economy, the most often-asked question is regarding money for the project. Our goal for the park is to obtain the land lease and complete Phase One spending as little money as possible. We have already started contacting local businesses and industries to see about donating materials, tools, and labor and have gotten positive feedback from those contacts.
We have also been asked often about maintenance. With the “zeroscaping,” we believe that the park will require little maintenance. Several people have asked how this will get people off the highway and the answer is that on first appearance, somebody probably won’t stop when they see the park. But what we are really driving at are first impressions. We want people who visit our community to have positive memories about their time here. Having scenic and interesting entrance points to the town is just one way we can enhance a visitors’ time while here.
Q What else do you think the public should know?
A I want people in Emporia to know that tourism in our town is a vibrant industry and is much more than someone from out of town taking a trip here to shop and dine. People come to Emporia for many reasons and while they are here we need to be able to show them what we have to offer. This coming weekend is a perfect example. The American Legion Baseball team will be hosting the state baseball tournament. There will be seven out-of-town teams participating each with a roster of around 15 players. Each team will likely have three coaches and a traveling party of parents and family of near 50 people. So when you do the math, there could be nearly 500 people from out of town staying two to four nights in our hotels, eating in our restaurants, visiting our attractions and shopping at our local merchants. That is big tourism dollars for our town.
Projects and places like our proposed visitors’ park are things we need to have in place so that when the nearly 500 people visiting the town this week go home, they have positive things to say about their time in Emporia.”