Editorial: Finally, real progress on King Louie

For the last few years, a wide range of Johnson County residents and officials have had lengthy discussions about the future of the former King Louie bowling alley and ice rink in Overland Park.

Critics wondered whether renovating the distinctive structure at 8788 Metcalf Ave. would be worthwhile or cost effective. Those questions brought some some needed pencil-sharpening and a better focus to the project.

In the end, the idea of transforming the building into a multi-use cultural center called the Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center was good enough to draw support for a publicly financed redevelopment.

Earlier this month, city and county officials along with leaders of the Johnson County Park and Recreation District and the Johnson County Museum showed up to celebrate at a non-traditional groundbreaking. The officials unveiled plans for what the new center will look like when work is completed.

At the very least, they would like to have the building ready for one of its new duties: serving as the home of a new advance voting space for the August primaries and November general elections this year.

The new center also will include a badly needed new home for the Johnson County Museum as well as space for the Johnson County Developmental Service’s Emerging Artists program.

In addition, rehearsal and performance space will allow the park district’s Theater in the Park to offer shows during winter months.

The entire project should be finished in 2017.

All of these should be good ways to benefit the public, especially by providing first-class facilities for longtime amenities such as the museum and Theater in the Park.

The Johnson County Commission, led by chairman Ed Eilert, deserves credit for making a solid decision to pursue a new future for the King Louie building.

This story was originally published January 26, 2016 at 4:34 PM with the headline "Editorial: Finally, real progress on King Louie."