KU and city may partner on major recreation area
Plans to build a multi-million dollar sports village at the northeast corner of 6th street and K-10 are quickly moving ahead.
Today the city unveiled the newest plans designed by the KU Endowment Association and Kansas Athletics.
The plans are similar to the ones drawn up for the original site on the other side of K-10, but the latest designs released today are bigger and according to City Manager David Corliss, they are also better for KU and the City.
"We've got an opportunity to build something that's not just great for our citizens and their ability to recreate and be involved in sports activities and bring citizens to the community as well," he said.
The design calls for three new KU sports facilities, a soccer field, softball field and outdoor track and field stadium.
The university has also included space for an outdoor amphitheater and other facilities for the future
"They have also kind of ghost planned not in their first phase, but in future phases, an indoor arena and other types of facilities out here as well," Corliss said.
As for the city, a potential 181 thousand square foot recreation center would be located on the northeast side of the property.
"This is a particularly scenic location nestled up in the trees, I think it would be a great location for this opportunity for windows that look out on it," Corliss said.
Corliss says the city and KU endowment are currently discussing the financial agreement for the facility.
"The discussion with the endowment association is owning some of the property where we have our facility but not the remainder of the property,” he said.
The city has also asked the university to consider building new tennis courts and allowing space for several miles of walking trails.
The two groups would also collaborate on the parking lot, which has added 600 spaces bringing the total to 1400 spaces.
As good as the project looks, Corliss says the city still has much to consider.
"KU is going to proceed on this property, the question to the city is do we want to partner with them on this site and that's what we’re doing right now is analyzing it," he said.
The planning commission will be the first group to weigh in on the plans when it considers an annexation and rezoning request for the area later this month.