Summer is officially here, signaling the time to get outside to hike, bike and play. Launched last year as a go-to-guide for everything outdoors in Wichita, the online resource GoPlayKansas.com has significantly expanded to include all parks and recreation spaces in the state. Now no matter where you live in Kansas, it has never been easier to find new places to “go play.”

“What started as a local effort to get people outdoors and more active has gone statewide,” said Suzie Ahlstrand, vice president for community advancement at the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce and coordinator for Visioneering Wichita, a community planning process that spearheaded the effort through its Recreation Alliance.

Visitors can go to www.GoPlayKansas.com to find interactive maps and more information about how to locate bike paths, parks with playgrounds and a list of park amenities.  In addition, visitors can read blogs written by local recreation enthusiasts, post comments and sign up to receive more information.

Designed to promote healthy lifestyles among Kansans, GoPlayKansas.com makes finding parks and recreation options throughout the state easy, so families, friends, groups and individuals can get outside and “go play.”

“We really have a tremendous number of assets that can be found in our local and state parks and we want them to be discovered,” said Doug Vance, executive director of the Kansas Recreation and Park Association.  “The GoPlayKansas website is a great way to easily locate these resources, and more importantly to get out and engage in some fun and healthy activities.”

The site also includes a list of activities that can be used to get kids outside and active. The activities were developed by Rhonda Holt, elementary physical education teacher for 33 years and a National Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year. The plans are endorsed by KAHPERD (Kansas Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance), a leader in promoting and advocating for healthy, active Kansans.

“These plans are designed with specific ages in mind, and with the intention that a healthy lifestyle starts early and can last a lifetime,” said Vicki Worrell, executive director of KAHPERD and president of the American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. “This is a tremendous resource for the people of Kansas – and for those visiting the state. We hope everyone finds a way to use it.”

Worrell added that the site also is in line with the newly released National Physical Activity Plan, which encourages all individuals and families to be physically active.

“It is exciting to see Kansas really be on the leading edge with this type of initiative,” she said.
Designed and programmed by Wichita interactive agency Howerton+White, the site uses social media technologies to translate GIS (geographic information systems) data about parks, recreation and open spaces, which reside in databases in cities and counties across the state.
To follow GoPlayKansas.com on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook, go to www.GoPlayKansas.com.

Wichita Transit Adds Rider Amenity…. Bike Racks Are Here!

The Wichita Transit Department has added bike racks to all of the Transit buses to accommodate the needs of riders. Each bus is equipped with one bike rack which can hold two bicycles. The bike racks increase transportation options by allowing a bicycle trip to be incorporated with public transportation. There are 48 City buses which travel 18 fixed routes.

“Transit riders have been asking for the bike racks and we are excited to better meet their needs,” Wichita Transit Director Mike Vinson said. “We are now able to connect these two important modes of transportation. We believe the racks will increase ridership and help reduce pollution by encouraging the use of public transportation and bicycles.”

There is no extra charge to riders who use the bike racks. An ARRA Stimulus fund grant of $24,000 paid for the racks. For more information about Transit services, visit wichita.gov or call the information line at 265-7221.

Will this change the way Wichita travels? Will you be more apt to hop on the bus?  Let us know what you think and what you’d like to see next…  bike lanes, anyone?

If that’s what you think, you’re not alone. A 2007 survey of Wichita residents found that one of the primary reasons why Wichita residents don’t use the Wichita bike paths / pathways system are because they can’t find them. Yes, there were other reasons why pathways aren’t used (view the Wichita PROS Plan survey). However, for nearly 17 percent of the survey respondents it came down to something relatively inexpensive. It wasn’t that the community didn’t make the huge investment to construct the infrastructure, it came down to information.

This website, www.goplaykansas.com, is an awesome tool that will help to ensure that people have access to the information they need. The website is a radical solution and one that requires radical cooperation to make it all work. Within Kansas there are many public and private providers of recreation resources. Our challenge is to collect and standardize that information.

This blog will provide you with information about the adventures involved with this humongous challenge. You’ll find out how we are working with communities all over Kansas to provide you with the information you need to go play! Stay tuned for updates and how you can get involved.

I’ve heard it time and again: “There are no oceans or mountains in Wichita.”  I can’t argue that fact.  But you know what?  Kansas, and even more specifically South-Central Kansas, has a lot to offer anyone looking to head to the great outdoors.  Recreation can be defined in a wide variety of ways, but I like to say quite simply that it involves enjoying the outdoors.

Growing up in South Dakota, I had many opportunities to learn about the outdoors and try various recreation opportunities.  My time in Kansas has taught me this great state too has so much to offer and my passion for the outdoors has been able to continue.  I know many of you have the same passion, because I have heard a professed love of recreation, often times coupled with a complaint of not knowing what opportunities exist in the area.  Young professionals especially are looking for ways to stay active.  The great thing about recreation is there are ways to get outdoors no matter your stage in life.  Not only does recreation keep you active, but it is a great way to socialize with others who have common interests.

goPLAYkansas.com is going to be the next great thing for recreation in the region!  The website is the result of a group of people with the same passion about recreation coming together with the goal of better identifying the abundance of recreation opportunities.  Can recreation in the region be improved?  Yes, there is definite room for improvement of recreation opportunities in the region.  As goPLAYkansas.com gets more functionality, the citizens of the region will be able to have a say about recreation through the interactive features of the website.  As a recreation person myself, I know that goPLAYkansas.com will be my website, as well as your website, and the website of anyone else who wants to make a difference in recreation.

So, whether you’re a bicycler, kayaker, fisher, jogger, gardener, walker, sports enthusiast, canoer, rock climber, water skiier, or whatever, go get your recreation on!