AMY CONKLING
Hutch Rec
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Recreation Commission is thrilled to announce the upper pond at Dillon Nature Center is now fully restored and filled, thanks to the generous support of local donors and a successful collaboration with Evergy. The pond was dredged this past spring to restore its depth and now reaches a minimum of four feet, with some areas extending as deep as nine feet.
Dillon Nature Center supporter and DNC Foundation board member Steve Dillon spearheaded fundraising efforts.
“It’s wonderful to see the pond full again and ready for our community to enjoy as my family intended,” Dillon said. “This project is a testament to what can be accomplished when everyone works together.”
Donors rallied together to raise more than $285,000, which funded the dredging of the pond, as well as the restoration of certain bank areas while enhancing fishing habitats.
“We are deeply grateful for the generosity of all donors and the partnership with Evergy, along with the support of the City of Hutchinson, which ensured the success of this project,” says Tony Finlay, Executive Director of Hutch Rec. Finlay also extended a special thanks to the Hutchinson Fire Department for providing the hoses needed to transfer water from the Evergy wells to the pond.
Hutch Rec is working closely with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks to stock the pond with fish in the coming months, making it a go-to location for families to enjoy recreational fishing in Hutchinson.
Finlay said the nature center will implement a new fishing policy, which follows the recommendations of the recently approved Dillon Nature Center strategic plan that was approved in December 2023.
“This policy will enhance community access and create more opportunities for families to enjoy fishing in Hutchinson,” Finlay says.
For more information on the new fishing policy and upcoming nature education programs, visit hutchrec.com or contact Dillon Nature Center at (620) 663-7411.