Johnson County’s new state-of-the-art courthouse in Downtown Olathe includes a new greenspace. This space is envisioned to be a regional destination as well as serving local residents, Downtown employees, and visitors. To ensure it reflects area needs and interests, the County hosted a public engagement process to develop programming concepts. The concepts build upon previous planning efforts, such as the Envision Olathe Downtown Plan (2003), Streetscape Master Plan and Downtown Design Guidelines (2003), Downtown Active Transportation Plan (2017), and Olathe’s Bike Share Implementation Strategy (2018). 

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The engagement process included social media outreach, online surveys, pop-ups at local community events and public spaces, facilitation of Steering Committee workshops,  a local business owner forum, and public Open House events to garner feedback on priority uses and conceptual design of the new green space. The big ideas that were prioritized by the community included:

• Create a destination to draw new audiences to Olathe

• Make an opportunity for art that celebrates historic and diversity of all 19 municipalities in the county

• Create a flexible outdoor venue with a stage that can be activated day and night for local residents, students, employees, and visitors

A preferred concept was identified and phasing options were presented to the Board of County Commissioners. Funding was approved for implementation of the first phase of work. This phase of work includes a curved walkway linking the administration building, courthouse, and all park elements, a tree grove on the NW corner, site lighting, and a community green to host events and community gatherings.