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The Identity
and Interconnection of the Wichita Community
 Wichita
lacks a sense of cohesiveness as
a city—both physical and social/cultural. Neither
the
under-used public transportation system nor the parks and recreation
infrastructure is sufficient to bridge the divide between the east and
west sides of the city or to connect neighborhoods. The
older,
inner-city neighborhoods have a strong, albeit fading, presence which
has little relationship with the newer subdivisions on the
city’s
edge.
AIA Wichita in collaboration with the city government and
“Visioneering Wichita,” www.visioneeringwichita.com,
a not-for-profit organization focused on social sustainability, has
launched an initiative to connect the city and create a sense of
identity by building on the strength of the established neighborhoods
near the core of Wichita and enhancing the transit system
with a
layer of hike and bike trails. A design competition in the
fall
open to members of AIA Wichita and area architecture students will
create an distinctive landmark for these transportation hubs where
public transit and hike and bike trails meet.
These hubs and spokes will create opportunities for social interaction
as well as attractive locations for coffee shops, retail, residential,
and other amenities to cluster. After identifying hub
locations
in concert with transit and city officials, AIA Wichita will
convene community workshops to create an identity for Wichita
representative of its citizens.
Sustainable physical and social identity will be enhanced as vibrant
public spaces develop where east and west can meet.
View
all Blueprint Initiatives |
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