WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) — A parking lot above an underground water reservoir near downtown Wichita was the talking point Tuesday night at a community meeting. The city of Wichita says the excess lot for the Mid-America All-Indian Center can no longer be used or parked.
Underground water tanks are found all over Wichita, but above ground you can’t see where they are, even if you’re parking right on top of them. The lot discussed Tuesday night was used as the overflow parking lot for Wichita’s Indian Center for years. But recently, the city said it is showing its age and cannot continue to serve as a parking lot.
The Indian Center parking lot is too small for all the events the museum hosts. The city is asking for community input and listening for ideas on how best to move forward. The city said it is examining options that include building a new lot on the Indian Center property, but stressed that this option would eliminate a popular sledding hill and several trees. The city also has to take into account how a new parking space would be paid for.
The city is also looking into options for overflow parking which could include a shuttle system to the Indian Center from the Exploration Place parking lot.
