Wichita City Council members have voted to approve funding for planned new public restrooms and hydration stations in the downtown area.
The city plans to install modern and durable restrooms at Naftzger Park and A. Price Woodard, Jr. Memorial Park. Two hydration stations will be installed at Naftzger Park and Old Town Square. Two additional hydration stations will be installed later at two downtown locations that have not yet been determined.
There were questions about funding of the new facilities during a Council meeting in September, so staff looked at capital improvement funding and shifted money from other areas where projects could be delayed until next year.
The project will use $435,000 in capital funding for park restrooms, along with $95,000 in funding from money that was planned for athletic field renovations and $100,000 in funding from a budget for irrigation system upgrades. That creates a budget of $630,000 that will be used for the restrooms and hydration stations.
The project originally called for funds from the city’s sale of the Hyatt Regency Hotel for A. Price Woodard Park, but Council members wanted to reserve that funding for park improvements.
