After three years of careful and detailed design, Kay’s Garden officially breaks ground this Friday, November 2 at 10:00 AM at the Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center. Kay’s Garden will be a world class Japanese garden that will become a destination filled with serenity and breath-taking views. It will offer inspiration, accommodate contemplation and serve as a venue for life changing experiences.
Kay’s Garden is being made possible through a legacy gift from the late Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Kay E. McFarland. Her lead gift accounts for 65% of the $6.44M project budget and also establishes a permanent endowment to maintain the garden into perpetuity. “The remainder of the funding will be achieved through a combination of private donations, earned income and designated ½ Cent Countywide Retailers Sales Tax,” said Zoo Director Brendan Wiley.
During Friday’s ceremony, the community will have the chance to meet Koji Morimoto. Koji is the Japanese Garden Master hired by local general contractor, KBS Constructors, Inc, to make sure the project design authentically transitions into the living project.
The initial work will begin with storm water management of much of the East half of Gage Park. This will be followed by utility work that result in about half of the parking lot in front of the Zoo and the Helen Hocker Theatre being removed. “If you have been to the park this week, you might have already noticed that a construction trailer is in place and may have seen crews out marking existing utility lines.”
Over the next four to five months, things are going to be a bit of a mess,” said Wiley. During that time, people visiting the Zoo, Helen Hocker Theatre and the Big Gage Shelter House may need to use parking areas more in the center of the park. “We will make sure that signage is in place to direct patrons to the best parking areas. We are also working on a temporary shuttle service to accommodate peak times.”
The project planners expect that by the end of March, the storm drainage along Zoo Parkway will be completed and to have a new parking lot in place just South of the Helen Hocker Theatre. As spring and summer visitors return back to Gage Park, they will be able to see progress being made on Kay’s Garden and the affiliated Gallery and Event Center.
Kay’s Garden is expected to take 15 months to complete and will open to the community in the spring of 2020.
For more information or to learn how to donate to the “Kay’s Garden – Tell us your story” capital campaign, contact Brendan Wiley at 785-506-3797 or bwiley@topeka.org .
Case # 18-105077 & # 18-105082
On October 18, 2018 just before 5:00 a.m. the suspect pictured above reportedly broke into the Villa West Apartment Clubhouse located at 2744 SW Villa West Dr. He was seen getting into a white 4 door car. This suspect may also be responsible for a burglary on the same morning at 5:43 a.m. at the Southbrook Apartments located at 5201 SW 34th St.
If you have any information on this suspect, please email Sgt. Dan Wilson at dwilson@topeka.org or call him at (785) 368-2583.
You can also call Crime Stoppers at (785) 234-0007 to report anonymously. If your tip leads to an arrest, you could be eligible for a cash reward.
Case # 18-97201
On September 25, 2018 between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., this subject arrived at the Walgreens located at 1001 SW Topeka Blvd and then at the Walmart at 2630 SE California in what appears to be an Silver or Gold Nissan Altima. The subject allegedly committed criminal use of a financial card at both stores. The cards were part of a theft that occurred at the University of Kansas St Francis Hospital, in which a wallet was stolen out of the purse of an employee on the same date (Sep. 25) within the hours of 5:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
Note: The subject’s vehicle appears to be missing a hubcap on the passenger side rear wheel.
If you know who this individual is or have any information relating to this crime, please contact Detective Harrison at charrison@topeka.org.
You can also call Crime Stoppers at (785) 234-0007 to report anonymously. If your tip leads to an arrest, you could be eligible for a cash reward.
Attention Pokémon Trainers: Topeka was selected to join seven other cities in hosting a preview opportunity to play the upcoming games for the Nintendo Switch, Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! The other cities include Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Dallas, Chicago, Boston, and New York. Topeka was selected because of our history with the Pokémon franchise. Back in 1998, Nintendo chose Topeka as the site for the national debut for a series of Pokémon games.
The Topeka Zoo will host the Pokémon Let’s Go Road Trip on October 27th, from 9:00-6:00. A pair of Pikachu and Eevee themed demo trucks will be in the Topeka Zoo parking lot. All Gage Park guests will have the opportunity to test out the new games, as well as the new Poké Ball Plus accessory for the Nintendo Switch. This event is completely free and open to the public.
Friends of Topeka Zoo Executive Director Jared Bednar says, “Pokémon has been such an important component of our pop culture. The television shows, video games, and card games are ingrained in many of our childhood memories. We are so excited to be one of the cities selected to participate with this exciting promotion.”
In conjunction with the Pokémon Let’s Go Road Trip, the Topeka Zoo will be bringing back our Pokémon Go Safari Zone for Oct. 27. Avid Pokémon collectors know that new Pokémon were just released on Oct. 16 within the Pokémon Go game for iOS and Android. With the assistance of local trainers, lures will be dropped throughout the day to increase Pokémon spawns.
Oct. 27 is also the second date of our annual Boo at the Zoo event. Dozens of vendors will provide candy and activities within the zoo for a safe, trick-or-treating environment. Standard general admission rates apply; Friends of Topeka Zoo members receive free admission.
For Further Information please contact Jared Bednar, Executive Director, FOTZ (785)368-9162
The City of Topeka and the United States Army Corps of Engineers will host a public meeting on a study conducted by the Corps on possible measures for reducing flood risk in the Shunganunga Creek. The meeting will be held on October, 25th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Holliday Building at 620 Madison Street.
After a flood event in 2007, the City of Topeka asked the Corps to conduct a study on the Shunganunga creek and look at options for flood control. In this 50/50 cost shared study, the Corps completed hydrologic models of past flooding, including the 2007 flood. The Corps also performed real estate assessments, surveys, plan formulation, construction cost estimates, and economic analyses. The Corps has used this data to evaluate multiple alternatives to reduce flood risk in the watershed.
The Corps will be presenting some potential improvements to help reduce flood risk. Some of the alternatives would potentially be eligible for federal cost share. Projects that qualify under the federal program would be eligible for 65-35 split cost between the Corps and the City of Topeka. There is a cap on the Corps contribution of $10 million in improvements, including the cost of the study and design.
The public is invited to this meeting to listen to and provide input on the recommendations from the Army Corps of Engineers.
For more information, contact the Utilities Department at 785-368-3111.
The City of Topeka is partnering with the Shawnee County Landlord’s Association and Housing and Credit Counseling Inc. to hold the first ever Topeka Landlord Expo. The Landlord Expo will take place on Saturday, October 27th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Downtown Ramada Hotel & Convention Center.
The first annual Topeka Landlord Expo will be the most informative Landlord Expo in the Midwest with over 80 exhibitors and several training sessions throughout the day. The expo will provide a platform for property investors to seek advice, guidance and tools necessary to succeed in the development and management of their commercial and residential rental properties.
“The City of Topeka wants to provide landlords with the advice, tools and knowledge that they need to be successful in our community,” said Neighborhood Relations Director Sasha Haehn. “The Expo is perfect for all landlords, whether you are a first time landlord, established landlord, agent, property investor or thinking about entering the private rental market.”
Workshops for residential landlords will include fair housing and best practices. Workshops for commercial landlords will include the neighborhood revitalization program, housing tax credits program, city economic development incentives and Topeka Police Department safety precautionary tips.
“The Shawnee County Landlords Association is very excited to see the City of Topeka taking the initiative to open the communications with the landlords in the community,” said Bette Allen, President of the Shawnee County Landlord Association. “We have found that it is easier to work together when everyone is on the same page. This event will open the door for a better understanding of the issues and concerns about rental properties throughout the city.”
The Landlord Expo will have free entry, free information, free parking and complementary tea or coffee.
For more information visit, http://bit.ly/TopekaLandlordExpo or call (785) 368-4470 or email mglaude@topeka.org
Mayor De La Isla’s Project Puerto Rico initiative with Boys & Girls Club of Topeka yielded four bundles of school supplies, a total of $400 dollars in cash donations to be sent to students in Puerto Rico.
“I am so glad that the community was able to show up for the children in Puerto Rico and provide them with access to supplies that they will need for their education,” said Mayor Michelle De La Isla. “I want to thank Boys & Girls Club of Topeka for collecting the donations and helping with this initiative to help students learn after suffering through the effects of Hurricane Maria.”
Boys & Girls Clubs reach 4 million youth in 4,300 Club sites across the nation. Boys & Girls Clubs in Puerto Rico have 13 Clubs and annually serve 15,000 children between the ages of 6-18 years old every year. 9 out of 10 of those children reside in poverty.
“Boys & Girls Clubs work collectively to impact kids who need us most and when tragedy hits any Club area we respond from boots on the ground, resources and the support necessary to keep those Club sites available for those kids who need us most,” said Dawn McWilliams, Chief Executive Officer for Boys & Girls Club of Topeka. “We were honored to be selected by Mayor De La Isla to assist her in leading a local effort to get needed supplies into the hands of Club kids in Puerto Rico. A priority outcome area for Boys & Girls Clubs is good character & citizenship – guiding our Club kids to be engaged citizens and making a difference in the lives of others.”
Club kids and their families collected $50 and four boxes of miscellaneous school supplies. Mayor De La Isla is in contact with a Puerto Rican state representative to arrange an appropriate destination for the supplies at a Boys & Girls Club in Puerto Rico.
In response to media requests, the City of Topeka has provided a video of an officer’s police interaction with Timothy Harris on January 23, 2018, as well as the attached Officer Use of Force Report/Narrative. Some of the information contained in the Use of Force Report/Narrative is as follows: Officer Janes was investigating a theft complaint against Harris and was also aware that Harris had an outstanding warrant for violating his probation in a Shawnee County District Court case. He was on probation for convictions for paraphernalia and interference with a law enforcement officer. In the course of the officer’s contact with Harris, Harris repeatedly failed to follow verbal directions from the officer. Once Harris was placed in handcuffs, Officer Janes attempted to take Harris to the police vehicle. Harris began resisting by tensing up his body, refusing to move, and reaching back to grab the officer’s duty belt, where his handcuffs, pepper spray and firearm were located. The officer then placed Harris on the ground for better control, until additional officers arrived. While on the ground, Harris again grabbed the officer’s duty belt. In response, the officer used two fist strikes to Harris’s torso and applied pepper spray to his face.
AMR was called to the scene and treated Mr. Harris for facial lacerations and pepper spray exposure. At no time while Harris was in TPD custody did he complain of a broken jaw. Further medical care was refused by Harris at the scene after which he was transported to the Department of Corrections.
Public records also reflect that Harris was charged in Municipal Court case CR-2018-533-MS with Unlawful Parking, Disobeying a Lawful Police Order, Interference with Law Enforcement, and Battery against a Law Enforcement Officer. Harris was represented by an attorney and entered into a plea agreement. Harris was found guilty of Unlawful Parking and Interference with Law Enforcement. The charges of Disobeying a Lawful Police Order and Battery against a Law Enforcement Officer were dismissed, pursuant to the plea agreement.
Case # 18-88789
On September 1, 2018, these two subjects reportedly took a couple hundred dollars worth of merchandise from the Caseys gas station at 45th and SE California.
If you know who these two are or know their whereabouts, please contact Det. Wilson at (785) 368-9551 or email him at cdwilson@topeka.org.
You can also call Crime Stoppers at (785) 234-0007 to report anonymously. If your tip leads to an arrest, you could be eligible for a cash reward.
More than 1,100 area fourth graders, their teachers and parents and more than 100 volunteers are registered to attend the 19th Annual Make A Splash Topeka Water Festival at Garfield Park and Community Center Thursday, Sept. 20. This event runs from 9:30 a.m. until 2:05 p.m.
The festival, “Make a Splash Topeka Water Festival,” is part of a program in which festivals are scheduled annually in hundreds of locations around Kansas, the United States and internationally.
Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) is an international, interdisciplinary, water science education program for formal and non-formal educators of K-12 students. The activities are correlated to the state standards and support what students are learning in school. The Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education (KACEE), in partnership with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, sponsor Project WET in Kansas.
“Water touches nearly every aspect of our lives. We use water to drink, brush our teeth, wash, cook, clean, grow food, produce energy and more. We depend on water not only to live, but for nearly everything we do. That makes conserving and preserving this vital natural resource essential,” said Laura Downey, KACEE Executive Director. “We designed this event for fourth graders, because water is a topic that is often covered by teachers at this grade and this event supports students’ understandings of this amazing resource. Through the hard work of our many volunteers, the 1,100 fourth graders will participate in hands-on education activity stations and learn about a variety of water topics. Stations will teach students about how water gets from the river to their taps, how we can save water, how we can make sure water is clean and healthy for living things and even how to be safe when recreating on the water, to name just a few. By the end of this fun day, students have a better understanding of how important water is to our lives and what they can do to be good stewards of this shared resource.”
The event is offered free of charge to those who register in advance. Many classes are provided financial assistance with transportation costs.
Sponsors of the Topeka Water Festival include the Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education (KACEE); Office of Utilities and Transportation, City of Topeka Public Works; Shawnee County Conservation District; Shawnee County Farm Bureau; Upper Wakarusa WRAPS and Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams; Westar Energy Green Team; Goodyear Tire & Rubber;Jackson County Conservation District; Pottawatomie County Conservation District; Scott Holloman, CPA, LLC; Franklin County Conservation District. Supporters include Arab Shrine Provost Guard Unit; Garfield Community Center and Park; The Salvation Army; Shawnee County Parks and Recreation; Kansas Department of Health & Environment/Bureau of Water, Watershed Mgt. Section; Kansas Water Office.
For information on KACEE programs, individuals may contact Laura Downey, KACEE Executive Director, at 785-532-3322. For more information about the water festival, contact Molly Hadfield at 785-368-0991 or Laura Downey at 785-532-3322.