Lawrence has been presented with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to connect our historic Kaw River waterfront with Downtown Lawrence. A stronger connection to the river will create opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to take a stroll along the river, relax and watch local wildlife, and otherwise enjoy connecting with a beautiful natural area right in the heart of the city. It will also draw more visitors, both locals and out-of-towners, to Downtown Lawrence to ensure a thriving downtown for future generations.

But we must act now to make this vision a reality! The City of Lawrence is currently reviewing bids for a project to replace the retaining wall at Abe & Jake’s Landing and repair the scour holes at Bowersock Dam.  This work is important to maintaining our water supply at the Kaw River Water Treatment Plant, but it also presents an opportunity to invest money we already have to spend toward a project that will create better access and recreational opportunities in Downtown Lawrence.

Friends of the Kaw, FLAT, and other friends and partners believe Lawrence can build accessible, vibrant public riverfront access complete with in-river kayak features as part of this project. If done right, the City can apply for additional state and federal funding to enhance the project, which could include portage boat ramps for river access, as well as a Lawrence Loop trail extension from Burcham Park to the new access point.

Lawrence has few river amenities to support a national trend toward supporting access to river activities an eco-sports in downtown areas. The current disconnect between the river and our downtown is a missed economic, environmental, lifestyle, and recreational opportunity for the City of Lawrence, its visitors, and its citizens.

But cities like Salida, Colorado, and Reno, Nevada, have taken advantage of this trend by creating family-friendly, downtown access points on their rivers. These are naturalistic places on the riverfront that include a boat portage for non-motorized craft like canoes and kayaks and a park where boaters practice kayaking skills and fish, and where everyone can watch wildlife and connect with the river. Paved trails in these areas provide easy river access for bicyclists, walkers, and casual visitors.

With the right investment right now, we can join other communities who have turned river access into new recreational and economic opportunities. But we need your help! Contact our city commissioners today to ask them to use the scour hole and retaining wall project to create new access to the Kansas River and reconnect this River City to the Kaw!