Spring is in the air
Spring is starting to show up around McPherson, bringing with it that sense of renewal we see every year; trees budding, parks filling up again, and more people out enjoying the community. It’s a good reminder of the energy and connection that make this a place people are proud to call home. For the City, spring is when much of the planning done over the winter starts to come to life. We’ll begin to see projects and programs take shape across the community, while our teams focus on getting parks and public spaces ready and continuing the day-to-day services that keep things running. If you’re looking for a way to get involved, we’re currently hiring for seasonal and other open positions. You can view current opportunities by clicking here. Thank you for taking a few minutes to stay connected and informed. It truly makes a difference as we continue moving forward together as a community. In this issue, you’ll find updates on what’s happening around town and a few things to keep on your radar in the coming weeks.
- Britta Erkelenz, Assistant City Administrator/ Human Resources Director
All about trees
Best in the state
McPherson, you have another state winner. The City of McPherson Park Department is excited to announce that local winner Isabel Perry, a fifth-grader at Eisenhower Elementary School, is the 2026 state champion in the annual Arbor Day Tree Poster Contest. McPherson fifth-graders are asked by the Park Department to participate every year in the local contest with the winner being sent to the Southeast Regional Office of the Kansas State Forest Service. The four region winners are then voted on at the state level. Perry’s local and regional-winning poster took top honors for the second straight year for McPherson. This year's theme was “Kansas Trees are Terrific in All Shapes and Sizes.” Perry and their classmates also are invited to participate in the annual Arbor Day Celebration with the Park Department, where they will have the opportunity to learn about Arbor Day, local forestry and take part in a tree-planting ceremony. That event will take place at 11 a.m. April 24 at Lakeside Park Shelter No. 5. Shelter map. The City of McPherson (48 years) is one of the longest-tenured municipalities in the state to carry the Tree City USA designation, a program through the Arbor Day Foundation designed to promote sustainable community forestry.
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Always a good time to plant a tree
City of McPherson Arborist Ethan VanDorn and the McPherson Park Department staff spent a few days mid-March attending to the department’s Tree Master Plan by planting new trees in Lakeside Park. The plan includes 25 trees taking root in public spaces each year by the department, part of the City’s dedication to its Tree City USA designation. This year’s slate of trees includes: 3 Fall Fiesta Maples, 1 Bur Oak, 4 Loblolly Pine, 4 Bald Cypress, 2 River Birch 8 Sergeant Crabapple 3 Exclamation Planetree and 1 Red Maple.
get your Veterans banners
Entering its seventh year, the deadline is looming for the McPherson Veterans Banners project for 2026. New registrations are being collected for banners to be placed in Memorial Park and on poles along Kansas Avenue (U.S. Highway 56) through McPherson. The registrations are handled by McPherson Park Department Supervisor Lauren Przymus in a joint effort with American Legion Post No. 24. Self-funded aside from labor after an initial investment of $3,000 each by the City of McPherson and McPherson County, the project has grown in popularity each year. Banners are hung by Memorial Day and removed just after Veterans Day. Once a banner is purchased for $150, it stays up for three years, at which point the person who purchased the banner can keep it. Any proceeds are given to the American Legion. The cutoff date to register for a banner this year is April 27. For those who purchased a banner in 2023, this is the renewal year.
Much-needed improvements
New fencing at Lakeside
With more people headed outdoors, it was time for a fresh look in one of the areas of Lakeside Park. The McPherson Park Department replaced timbers on the fence that borders the bridge and parking along Euclid Street. Along with that, mowing in the parks began in mid-March with crews already having to make one round through the parks in unseasonably warm temperatures.
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Efficient solution
McPherson Cemetery Sexton Jeff Rife and staff worked with Shacks and Sheds out of Galva to construct a cover for the existing topsoil bunker at the cemetery shop. The covered area will help preserve soil used to cover burial plots. This will help eliminate waste and preserve quality soil year round, along with being able to back a truck in.
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Shoring things up
A new retaining wall and pump house restorations put the finishing touches on the irrigation project at Turkey Creek Golf Course. The new wall shored up the surface underneath the pump house after years of erosion caused significant structural threats. This part of the project included new piping into the pond as well as new screening to keep pumps clean. The TCGC clubhouse also received some upgrades with new light fixtures placed throughout.
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Fresh stripes
The City of McPherson Street Department has begun lining crosswalks and parking areas with a fresh coat of paint. Crews will be in the downtown area in early April. Businesses will be notified via door hanger when their parking stalls might be affected. Please remember to slow down when you see cones and give them the room they need to complete the task.
This & That
Framing things up
The City of McPherson Park Department is adding a new feature to its grounds to help extend the growing season for some of its plants for public spaces. Work began in March (pictured) on a cold frame shelter just outside the department’s greenhouse. The department will utilize this space to help with growing and storing all of the plant life eventually transplanted into the parks and other high traffic areas, including the McPherson County Courthouse.
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Grant approved
The McPherson Park Department recently received news of its grant award through Keep it Clean Kansas. This makes up to $9,000 available in matching funds to purchase new park equipment (tables, benches) that are made out of recycled rubber. Applying for grants through these programs is just one of the many ways to keep improving and maintaining our awesome public facilities.
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HCAP a popular choice
Showing a program in high demand, all funds for the 2026 round of the City of McPherson Homebuyer Cash Assistant Program have been expended. At the beginning of 2026, The City set aside $50,000 for the program, which awards $5,000 to qualified home buyers in the City, and had 10 successful applicants by mid-February. For more about the HCAP, click here
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Getting closer
As of March 27, the Convention & Visitors Bureau had collected all but 15 states in its quest to receive USA 250th birthday cards from around the nation. CVB staff is hanging all cards at its entrance at 1111 E. Kansas Avenue, and hopes to collect all 50 by the time it hosts the City’s annual July 4 celebration at Wall Park. Keep an eye on Visit McPherson to find out when the CVB reaches its goal.
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All you can eat
Join the McPherson Fireman’s Benefit for the annual pancake feed — $5 all you can eat! The event will take place at Fire Station 2, 1705 N. Main Street, from 9 a.m. to noon on April 11. See you there.
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Floodplain regulations
Adopted Feb. 17, 2026, the City of McPherson’s floodplains management regulations are authorized and designed to reduce flood risks to people property and infrastructure. The overall goal is to protect public health and safety, minimize flood losses and ensure the City remains eligible for the National Flood Insurance Program. The regulations require oversight of development in flood-prone areas, including mandatory floodplain development permits, elevation or flood-proofing standards. To read more on the adoption of the regulations, click here
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Long-awaited
At long last, the Central Kansas Conservancy and the Meadowlark Trail will celebrate its completion of the 12.5-mile stretch from McPherson to Lindsborg. The trail is on the old Union Pacific Railroad rail bed and crosses 11 bridges. The McPherson trailhead sits just to the west of the Northview and U.S. Highway 81 Bypass. The final stage was completed with the installation of a replacement bridge that was destroyed by fire in August 2017. That will serve as the location for a ribbon cutting scheduled for 11 a.m. April 25 at one of the entrances to the trail just off Quivira Road north of McPherson.
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Reminder of leash laws
With spring-type weather now in store, the McPherson Animal Shelter gave out some advice to pet owners, both for their pets’ safety and the safety of others. City Ordinance Sec. 10-46 requires all dogs to be contained or under control whenever outside. At Home, dogs must stay on your property with a fence, tether, or supervised leash time. Wood, chain link, or underground electric fences all work if they safely contain your pup. In Parks and other public spaces, dogs must be on a leash in all public parks, except the McPherson Dog Park, which is fully fenced for free-roaming fun.
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The music returns!
The McPherson PLF team is bringing music back to the now-shaded downtown Plaza this spring. The team announced the lineup for Wednesdays at lunch time in May.
Performer lineup
May 6 — Jaydon Evans May 13 — Deluge May 20 — Kashi May 27 — Deflecting Ghosts
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Hit the links
Golf weather means things are getting busy at Turkey Creek Golf Course. Clubhouse manager Collin Duckworth released the April schedule of tournaments. The first is slated for April 10 with the McPherson High School Invitational. The first tournament open to public play is the Turkey Creek Masters, scheduled for a 9 a.m. shotgun start on April 11. The first Turkey Creek Couples Night is slated for April 24, and the senior League starts at 9 a.m. April 2. For more information, reach out to the course at 620-241-8530. The course also will be the host of the Class 1A State Championships this year. Look for information later this month about volunteer opportunities for that tournament.
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Sign up, stay alert
The City of McPherson utilizes Everbridge as its emergency alert notification system. In a continued effort to collaborate with local and area agencies, the City now will be a part of the South Central Kansas regional notification system. Residents in 14 counties — including McPherson — can receive critical emergency alerts and community news by signing up. This system allows allows users to choose how and where they receive notifications, including home, mobile or business phones, email or text messages. You can sign up for alerts by clicking here.
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Take part in the solution
During the month of February, staff responded to 17 requests made through the CIty’s request management system. The portal allows Citizens to report various issues from broken playground equipment to faulty street lights and send it directly to a staff member with capability to address the issue. Staff can then provide a direct response and give updates on the request's status. Click here to check out the online portal or download SeeClickFix on your Android or Apple device.
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Prep begins for 2027
While the City's Finance Team has been hard at work since the beginning of the year, the 2027 budget now lies in the hands of department representatives. The first meeting relating to the 2027 budget will take place in the Spring Retreat, scheduled for Tuesday, April 7, 2026, following adjournment of the City Commission Meeting and Study Session. The retreat will take place at Kansas Municipal Utilities, 2090 E. Avenue A. The first retreat — with McPherson City Commissioners — will present an opportunity for department heads to discuss 2027 plans as it pertains to the City's overall strategic vision.
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Star Spangled good time
All Schools Day is just around the corner. Be sure to check out the All Schools Day website to keep up to date on the different things that will be going on.
Project updates
Welcome pollinators
The infrastructure for the Pollinator Garden at Challenger Park (near the pickleball courts) is nearly complete. City Horticulturalist Mariah Hudson is busy preparing the grounds for planting and a new sidewalk has been poured to complete the outer circle.
The walking path through the garden area — crushed aggregate in the shape of a butterfly — is framed by stone.
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Northview sidewalk
The most recent phase of the Northview Sidewalk Project is complete, with the final stages completed late March. The project is the result of the latest round of funding received through the Transportation Alternatives Grant through the Kansas Department of Transportation. With this addition, the 10-foot sidewalk runs from Veranda west to the Highway 81 Bypass, then connects to the Meadowlark Trail. This phase of the project also included drainage upgrades along the south side of Northview and a new 5-foot sidewalk from Grimes Street west to Main Street, an upgrade assisted in funding by Disability Supports of the Great Plains. Read more about the TA program by clicking here.
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First street
The west portion of First Street should be completed and open fully this week with crews working on sealing the patchwork performed last fall and at the beginning of this year.
Credits:
Created with images by Myshkovskyi - "Closeup of birch bud leaves in spring in the forest." • Myshkovskyi - "Closeup of birch bud leaves in spring in the forest." • Myshkovskyi - "Closeup of birch bud leaves in spring in the forest." • Myshkovskyi - "Closeup of birch bud leaves in spring in the forest." • Myshkovskyi - "Closeup of birch bud leaves in spring in the forest." • Myshkovskyi - "Closeup of birch bud leaves in spring in the forest."