Restoring the Kansas River Requires State Partnership and Action
By Sean Dixon, President, Visit Topeka and Riverfront Advisory Council Lead
When we talk about growing tourism, attracting visitors, and strengthening Topeka’s economy, one opportunity consistently rises to the top: the Kansas River. Communities across the country have learned that investing in their riverfronts is not simply about recreation. It is about economic development. Riverfront districts drive hotel stays, restaurant traffic, retail activity, housing investment, and small business growth. They create the kind of quality of place that attracts both families and employers.
Topeka is ready to do the same. But we cannot do it alone. In 2019, the City of Topeka issued a request for proposals to begin critical restoration work along the Kansas River corridor between the Topeka Boulevard and BNSF bridges. The project focused on removing decades of accumulated debris and obstructions, including logs, steel remnants, and iron embedded in the riverbed near bridge piers. It also included stabilizing the shoreline with approximately 160 tons of rock riprap to protect infrastructure and improve access.
This was not a cosmetic project. It was foundational work necessary to make the river safe, navigable, and usable. The estimated cost was $1.2 million. Without dedicated funding, the project stalled.
Today, that unfinished work stands between Topeka and the full potential of our Riverfront Vision Plan. That plan calls for trails, river access, green space, small businesses, housing, and entertainment that would connect downtown and NOTO and create a true destination for residents and visitors alike. But before private investment can follow, the public sector must address the basics: safety, cleanup, and infrastructure.
That is where the Legislature can make a difference. State investment in river cleanup, water infrastructure, and matching funds through the State Water Plan or related programs would unlock a project that has been waiting for years. These dollars would not only improve environmental conditions, they would catalyze tourism, recreation, and private development across the corridor.
This is exactly the kind of strategic partnership between state and local government that drives regional competitiveness. The Kansas River is one of our greatest natural assets. Restoring it is not optional if we want to compete for visitors, talent, and investment.
The plans are ready. The community is aligned. What we need now is legislative action to help fund and move this project forward.
Let’s finish what we started and finally bring the Kansas River back to life.