The R. Michael Rhoades Community Wetlands Park project (Newton, KS) is a collaboration of public and private partners seeking to transform the land adjacent to the restricted-access, wastewater treatment wetland into a dynamic, rainwater-fed, community wetland park, which will provide education on wetlands and their critical role along the Central Flyway.
Project goals:
- Provide safe access to view the existing wetlands and wildlife
- Expand the wetland area to include the rainwater-fed ground west of the treatment wetlands
- Provide park-style amenities to the new wetland area with a focus on birding and wildlife-watching
- Provide unique educational and aesthetic elements specific to the wetland theme
- Focus on birding-by-ear elements for blind and low vision park users
A committed group of partners has pledged to transform the city’s restricted-access parcel into a dynamic, community wetland space. The Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams (KAWS), city of Newton, R. Michael Rhoades Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, the Evergy Green Team, BNSF Foundation, Newton Lions Club, Healthy Harvey Coalition, Mark Miller, Cargill Cares, AARP, Chickadee Checkoff, KS Department of Ag Division of Conservation, KDWP Habitat First, Newton Etcetera Shop, Dyck Arboretum, and the Newton area birders have united to develop a park where visitors can safely view wildlife and learn about the critical role of wetlands along the Central Flyway.
Current timeline:
- Fundraising: ongoing. To make a tax-deductible contribution to this project: https://kaws.networkforgood.com/projects/158577-for-a-good-kaws
- Engineering: complete
- Murals: call for artwork: http://newtonmurals.org/callforart
- Permitting: in progress
- Groundbreaking: TBA
