January 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 47

tem functioned in order to improve
the quality of the habitat and the
water. From his first impressions of
the site as a dramatically humanaltered hunting environment and
its return to a nature-rich playa lake
system, he saw Pracht Wetlands as
a unique project and envisioned the
draw it would have to many people. " The biggest hope that we all
shared was that we would create
an inviting, exciting and beautiful
urban wetland, which would instill
in the visitors an appreciation for
the value of a wetland ecosystem.
They would come to connect the
dots themselves: water management plus a good quality habitat
equals lots of life. Whether people
live right there or drive to come see
it, they can always expect to see
something interesting, something
beautiful. If you can create a space
like this, it counts as a real achievement and something you can be
proud of, " Chapman says.
Pracht Wetlands Park now is
accessible to all as one of a few
remaining Midwestern wetland

environments, one of the largest
urban wetland parks in the United
States and, perhaps, the only one
that invites an immersive experience. Wichita will benefit from the
addition of this ecotourism site by
supporting continued conservation efforts, while drawing visitors
from all over to observe and engage with the wildlife. Educating
visitors about the importance of
wetlands and their preservation is
essential to maintaining a healthy
environment, and healthy patrons,
for the long run. This amenity has
become especially critical during
times of coronavirus restrictions
as people look for ways to exercise
in the outdoors while remaining
physically distant and tending to
their mental and physical health.
The reach of the project has gone
beyond Wichita, winning awards at
the state, regional and national levels. Pracht Wetlands has received
a number of awards, including the
Kansas Recreation and Park Association 2019 Innovative Program
Award and the 2017 Great Plains

Pracht Wetlands Park now is accessible
to all as one of a few remaining Midwestern wetland environments.

American Society of Landscape
Architects Award in Category II
Design Unbuilt.

Preserving a Legacy
The site is unique, and despite
all of the development that has
sprung up in the vicinity, Pracht
Wetlands Park remains a natural
haven and tribute to generations
of the Pracht family, government
agencies, conservationists and
even developers that preserved
this gem for others to enjoy for
many years to come. As wetlands
across the country continue to disappear at an astonishing rate, it
is now more important than ever
that agencies and their community
partners continue to preserve and
create environmentally sensitive
spaces.
Gentry Thiesen is Senior Management Analyst for City of
Wichita Park and Recreation (gthiesen@wichita.gov).

PA R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N .O R G | J A N UA RY 2 02 1 |

Parks & Recreation

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January 2021 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of January 2021 - Parks & Recreation
