Growth or commercialization? Overland Park Arboretum expansion approved over concerns
A $12.4 million expansion of the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens won final approval this week. But plans could stall if a group of angry neighbors decides to protest the decision, sending the issue to the City Council.
The Overland Park Planning Commission on Monday approved the project, which has been in the works for years. The plan includes adding a new visitors center, outdoor amphitheater and event spaces, plus more parking at the venue, off U.S. 69 and 179th Street.
While dozens of neighbors say they support the expansion, they argue the project would “commercialize” the gardens and draw noisy events and concerts. Many said the city hasn’t done enough to plan for added traffic on the already congested highway and 179th Street.
They started a group, called Preserve the Overland Park Arboretum, and have hired a lawyer.
“We want to expand and improve the arboretum. We live there. We’re the people who use the arboretum. We love the arboretum,” resident Jeff Cox said. “I see us as the defenders of the arboretum. We’re opposed to ruining it and making it something it wasn’t intended to be.”
The expansion is included in Overland Park’s five-year capital improvement plan. The rest of the money will come from the Arts and Recreation Foundation, which has raised around $7.5 million of its $10 million fundraising goal, said Greg Ruether, city park services director.
Plans include a 22,000-square-foot visitors center with an event space and reception hall, an outdoor amphitheater to accommodate 850 people, plus great lawns to hold events. Arboretum staff and volunteers said there is a major need for a new event center, as most crowds cannot fit in the current space.
Ruether assured residents that most of the arboretum will always remain natural land. He said new outdoor event spaces could be used for educational events, plays or other art performances.
“It’s not our intention for it to be a Sandstone or a Starlight,” he said.
Still, neighbors worry that more events will lead to more traffic, noise and light pollution. Many pointed to photos of traffic backups on 179th Street, saying it’s already difficult to access homes during the arboretum’s current events, such as the holiday Luminary Walk.
The Luminary Walk draws around 6,000 people each year. The arboretum has had to limit ticket sales in the past due to public safety concerns. And neighbors argue other events, such as the annual Botanical Brewfest, have violated the city’s noise ordinance.
Ruether said the arboretum will control noise and lighting depending on the event, and plans to continue working with the police department to manage traffic. Some planning commission members said they would like the city’s capital improvement budget to include the widening of 179th Street to eventually help ease congestion.
“I believe a lot of what we’ve been hearing today are fears, and are things that people don’t want to see happen,” said Vicki Lilly, executive director of the Arts and Recreation Foundation. “But none of those things are in this plan.”
The planning commission unanimously approved the plan, which does not require a vote by the City Council unless neighbors submit a valid protest petition by Dec. 23.
