City of Newton
NEWTON, Kan. — After four years of planning, fundraising, volunteer projects, and construction, the R. Michael Rhoades Wetland Park (1012 SW 14th St.) will open to the public after a dedication event Nov. 30.
The dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at noon. Activities for the public, including prairie seeding, will run until 3 p.m., weather permitting.
Parking is very limited (15 spaces), so carpooling is appreciated. Overflow parking will be available across the street at both Bridges Inc. and Source of Light.
In the case of inclement weather, the opening will be rescheduled to Dec. 5.
The development of this new City park was led by the Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams. KAWS is a nonprofit organization founded in 1996, whose mission is to “Connect the Waters, Lands, and People of Kansas.”
The idea for the Wetlands Park was multifaceted: There was a desire for access to the property by the birding community; this section of the City of Newton has little accessible greenspace; the park is located between the heavily traveled northern and southern sections of Newton's trails system; and there was not a nature-focused park within Newton’s city limits.
The 7.2-acre park is adjacent to the City’s existing manmade wetlands. Those wetlands, which were built along with the Sand Creek bank restoration project in 2009, are fed by effluent water from the adjacent Wastewater Treatment Plant. The area is very popular with wildlife, especially waterfowl, and bird counts have logged over 150 different species at this location.
This new wetlands project is fed by stormwater runoff rather than effluent. Its public access includes an elevated boardwalk, interpretative signage, and protected views of the wildlife in the existing City wetlands.
The park also incorporates birding-by-ear elements for blind and low-vision park users and five custom bird murals.
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 stakeholders have given their time and funding in order to transform the site into a dynamic, community wetland space:
- R. Michael Rhoades Foundation
- KAWS
- Ducks Unlimited
- Evergy Green Team
- Sunderland Foundation
- City of Newton
- Kansas Department of Health and Environment
- BNSF Foundation
- Newton Lions Club
- Mark L. Miller
- Cargill Cares
- AARP
- Wallace Foundation
- Chickadee Checkoff
- Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Conservation
- Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Habitat First
- Dyck Arboretum
- Newton Etcetera Shop
- NMC Health
- Newton Murals & Arts Project
- Rotary Club of Newton
- Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission
- KDWP Outdoor Wildlife Learning Sites
- Builders Concrete & Supply Inc
- The Prairy Foundation
- Walmart Community Grants
- Joe and Joy Robb
- Somers, Robb and Robb Law Offices
- Adrian & Pankratz Attorneys at Law
- Kansas Wildscape Foundation
- Newton-area birders who have united to develop a park where visitors can safely view wildlife and learn about the critical role of wetlands along the Central Flyway.
About the Rhoades Foundation
R. Michael "Mike" Rhoades was born and raised in Newton and spent many years as president of Rhoades Construction Company. Not long before his death, Mike was determined to help others in his hometown. He established the R. Michael Rhoades Foundation to benefit many causes in the Newton community and across Kansas. Core to Mike’s legacy is the foundation’s investment in outdoor opportunities. Mike knew the impact that valuable outdoor experiences had on his life and sought to continue that for future generations.
CLICK HERE to download the Hutch Post mobile app.
CLICK HERE to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.