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Parks, Medians and Trails

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1. Who do I call to report an irrigation leak in a median or park?

For parks and medians only, from 8:00 am till 5:00 pm Monday thru Friday, call 761-7491. Please give the time of day you noted the leak, and please be very specific when providing the location. To report any other type of water leak please call 761.4333. After hours and on weekends, call 720-5000 (Police dispatch), and they will contact the appropriate person.

2. Sometimes I see irrigation systems running between the hours of 11:00 am and 6:00 pm. I thought it was against the city ordinance to water during this time period?

Much confusion seems to exist on this issue. The ordinance prohibits irrigation with any ‘spray’ type system such as impact sprinklers, rotors, or pop-up spray heads. Drip irrigation is allowed any time of the day. Section 106-186 subsection (a)(1) of the ordinance states that “landscape watering is permitted any time with a hand held hose, soaker hose, bucket, watering can, bubbler or drip irrigation system.”

The reason for prohibiting spray systems during those hours is that 25% or more of water sprayed into the air evaporates before it ever hits the ground even under the best of conditions. The hotter the air temperature and the higher the wind speed, the greater the amount of evaporation.

In contrast to spray systems, drip irrigation systems deliver the water directly to the soil with almost 100% efficiency regardless of the air temperature or wind speed. For more information about making the best use of irrigation water, here is a link to an excellent website.
Efficient Landscape Irrigation...

3. What kind of flowers are in the bed at (location)?

Check out the 'Flowers' page under Median Beautification. This same information is also available in the publication "Flowers for the Falls" which can be found in the download section. If you still have questions, call 761-7491. More...

4. Why do you sometimes pull perfectly good flowers out of the beds?

This is the best way to have year-round color. Pansies provide wonderful color during the fall, winter and early spring, but they would not hold up under high summer temperatures. The summer flowers need to be planted early enough to get a root system established before the blisterng heat of July arrives. They look good thruout the spring, summer and early fall, but they would disappear with the first frost. Pansies have to be planted early enough to be established by cold weather; otherwise they wouldn't survive the winter.

5. Where do you get your flowers?

The flower order goes out for competitive bids each season. The current season's flower bid was won by Whitecotton Greenhouses out of Montague. Their flowers are available locally at the Berends stores.

6. How long are the hiking / biking trails and where can they be accessed?

The Wichita River Trail System is 4.4 miles long. It can be accessed from several points in Lucy Park, the Falls, 2nd at Lamar Street, O'Reilly Park, Farris Street, Williams Park, Harding Street and Fort Worth Street.

The Holliday Creek Trail System is 7.1 miles long and can be accessed from Hamilton Park Tennis Center, North Weeks Park, several points along Weeks Lane, South Weeks Park, Lake Wichita spillway, and Lake Wichita Park.
More...

7. Can I reserve the Lucy Park Log Cabin?

Yes, by calling the Recreation office at 761-7490. The Log Cabin can be reserved in 4 hour blocks for a rental fee of $40. A $100 cleaning deposit and a $15 key deposit are required. You must go by the Recreation Office to sign a contract and pay the deposits and rental fee before the reservation is official. More...

8. How many people will a picnic shelter accomodate?

Reservable shelters: Six people per table. Lucy Park 20 tables, Lucyland 14 tables, Weeks Park 20 tables, Scotland Park 12 tables, Kiwanis Park 11 tables, Lake Wichita Park 8 tables, Spudder Park 25 tables, Lamar Park 12 tables, Bridwell Park 12 tables, Williams Park 14 tables, and Hamilton Park 4 tables. More...

9. Where can I take my child to practice softball, baseball, or soccer?

Many of the parks have backstops for softball and baseball practice and goals for soccer practice. More...

10. Where can I go fishing?

Lake Wichita Park, Plum Lake (Softball Complex), and Lucy Park along the river but NOT at the Duck Pond.

11. Do you have maps of the trails?

You can download a copy of the trail maps from either the documents section, or by visiting the Maps page under Trails. More...

12. Where can I park to walk to the Falls?

There are 2 parking areas just inside Lucy Park on Sunset Drive that have access to the 10' wide concrete trail. It is about a 1 mile walk to the Falls and back. You can also park along the I-44 service road which circles under the I-44 bridge over the Wichita River. More...