Emporia park saved by community effort set to get some big improvements

EMPORIA (KSNT) - A local park in Emporia is set to get a makeover in the near future with the addition of new equipment to make visiting the space more exciting.

27 News spoke with Deon Morrow, Lyon County Healthy Pathways coordinator with the United Way of the Flint Hills (UWFH), on Thursday, June 5. The UWFH recently made it to the top three for Evergy's People's Choice Energizing our Environment Hometown Grants program, taking in $10,000 to go towards environmental and sustainable initiatives.

Morrow said UWFH plans to put the cash to good use in Emporia. Specifically, the organization has some big ideas to make Emporia's Quaker Park stand out more in the local community and give people some new activities to take part in.

"We want to inject some energy into our community and Quaker Park is one of those places where we want to inject that energy," Morrow said. "We want to give people something in that area to look forward to."

Evergy announced in a social media post on June 4 that UWFH was one of the big winners in its grant program and will use the money reimagine Quaker Park. This includes adding in a new climbing wall and revitalizing features there to encourage outdoor play, fitness and community connection.

"With this grant we are planning on getting a rock climbing wall, then a zipline," Morrow said. "We want to be as safe as possible but this also brings a different aspect to it. Being able to bring that to Quaker Park here is awesome."

Morrow said UWFH went on a "media blitz" this year to generate excitement and interest in Emporia so his organization could secure the $10,000 grant. Morrow credits the community with helping to secure the grant for the betterment of Quaker Park.

"I'm really proud of our community," Morrow said. "They really came together to help us out."

The Emporia community rallied to save Quaker Park in 2024 as it was under threat of being turned into new housing opportunities. The movement was ultimately successful with the park being saved through the work of petition organizers.

Morrow said the UWFH is looking to bring in the new equipment to the park within the next year. You can find Quaker Park at the southeast corner of First Avenue and Sylvan Street. More information on the park can be found on the City of Emporia's website.

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