The City of Wichita will receive $5 million in state grant funding to be used for improvements along the west bank of the Arkansas River near Riverfront Stadium. The improvements will include a public walkway and a sky bridge for pedestrians to cross McLean.

The grant is one of 35 projects announced by Kansas Governor Laura Kelly that will receive a total of $100 million in funding through the Building a Stronger Economy (BASE) program.   The governor said the grants provide essential funding to local communities to help them with continued economic growth.

Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple said the city will use the state grant to leverage $60 million in private investments that will include a hotel and new office buildings along the river.    Interim Assistant City Manager Kathy Sexton said the city will use most of the grant funding for riverbank improvements, and it will help fund the sky bridge, which would be constructed with the hotel and office buildings.

The Wichita City Council will take action at its April 19th meeting to receive the grant and begin the redevelopment process.