David Wilson, representing the Kansas Firefighters Museum, asked the Wichita Park Board to endorse renaming Lincoln Park as the Kansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial Park and to back a phased program of park upgrades and fundraising.

Wilson said the proposal would add fire-themed interpretive elements, a safety/education pad, new signage and increased site security. He showed renderings and described recent damage to the existing statue’s granite base after a vehicle incident, saying the upgrades would protect the memorial and “make it more honoring and reflective of firefighters.”

Why this matters: Wilson said the governor recently signed legislation that creates a Kansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial Committee and allows recognition of Wichita as the official state memorial site; the museum said that recognition would support a high-profile fundraising kickoff tied to the governor’s unveiling. Wilson told the board the long-term fundraising target is roughly $7,000,000, saying, “we figured we'd probably eventually have to raise somewhere around $7,000,000.”

Details of the plan presented to the board include installation of new entrance signage, a redesign to emphasize firefighting history and safety education, improved lighting and site hardening for the statue, and phased construction tied to fundraising milestones. Wilson said the group had not yet begun broad fundraising and planned a public kickoff tied to the governor’s schedule; an October 5 date was discussed but Wilson said the governor would not be available on that date and the museum was working with the governor’s office on an alternate schedule.

Parks staff and board members asked about next steps and jurisdictional approvals. A parks staff member told the board the parks department is supportive of the concept and of moving the item to the city council for formal approval of a name change and any required signage or easement actions.

Because the board did not have a full quorum at the meeting, members agreed to call a special meeting (virtual option discussed) to take a formal recommendation to the full board so the item can be referred to Wichita City Council. A board member indicated he would make a motion at that special meeting and another member said they would second it; no vote occurred at this session.

Wilson also presented a letter naming Philip Simon to serve as Wichita’s representative on the new state committee and asked the board to consider that nomination. Parks staff said they would include the nomination for action at the special meeting or otherwise follow the board’s direction.

Next steps: the board will schedule a focused special meeting to consider a motion to recommend the renaming and the associated improvements, and to consider the Philip Simon nomination. If the board approves, staff said it would forward the recommendation and supporting materials to city council for any legal and procedural approvals needed to change the park name and install signage.

No formal legal citations were presented in detail during the discussion; staff said the city council process and any state committee actions would be followed as required.