McPherson Matters City of McPherson eNewsletter • December 2025

Changes approved for splash pad

While the weather is turning colder, plans are in the works to make improvements for the McPherson Water Park in the summer of 2026.  The City of McPherson Commission voted to fund improvements to the splash pad area that would separate the plumbing system from the existing water slide and lazy river amenities.  What that means is the splash pad will be able to operate outside of normal operating hours for the water park.  Earlier in 2025, improvements were made to make the feature available outside of the fence with no admission fee, but would be limited to the hours of operation of the park. The system, though, suffered through equipment difficulties that didn’t allow for the splash pad, lazy river or slide to be open at all.  These improvements, along with repairs already made this fall, should not only fix the issues inside the park, but ensure the splash pad can be open earlier in the year and stay open past the annual closing of the fully-staffed swimming pool.  The commission approved the estimate of $23,224 with McPherson Quality air to design the new plumbing system. 

Odds/Ends

New Mayor will take the reins

With the Nov. 4 general election, unopposed candidate Jim Loving officially was voted in as the next mayor of the City of McPherson.  After 16 years, current Mayor Tom Brown’s last meeting will take place Jan. 4, 2026, with Loving being sworn in Jan. 13, 2026, and taking over mayoral duties.  Loving is a retired executive with 40 years in the energy industry. He moved to McPherson in 1993, beginning his career with and eventually becoming president of NCRA. He spent a short time with the organization in Minneapolis, Minn., before ultimately returning to McPherson in retirement.

All aboard

The annual holiday light tours organized by the McPherson Convention & Visitors Bureau and done on the McPherson trolley were sold out.  Tours begin Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. The event is a big hit with two tours per day scheduled for Dec. 4, 5 & 7 and 8, 9 & 10. The light tours hit up some of McPherson’s hot spots for light viewing including the Lights from the Heartland display in Lakeside Park. If you hop aboard the trolley, make sure and cast your vote for your favorite first responder display. 

Budget hearing

The City of McPherson Commission will hold a public hearing on Dec. 16, 2025, at 9 a.m. at the Municipal Center, 400 E. Kansas Ave. The purpose of the hearing is to hear and respond to taxpayer objections regarding the proposed amended use of funds.  The amended budget details are available for review at the Office of the City Clerk and will be presented at the hearing.  View a summary of the amendments by clicking here.

Patriotic All Schools Day

The McPherson County All Schools Day committee announced in November the theme for the 2026 ASD celebration.  The theme for the 113th event will be “A Star Spangled Celebration.” The executive committee opened the annual button design contest, inviting all area residents to participate. The selected design will be featured on the official All Schools Day button.  For more information, visit the All Schools Day Facebook page. 

Stay informed

The City of McPherson recently switched from CivicReady to 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. 

EMS receives 'yes' vote

Results from the Nov. 4 general election saw McPherson County voters approved 3039-2201 a 1/2-percent sales tax that will provide funding for McPherson, Lindsborg and Moundridge Emergency Medical Services — along with Rural Fire District 1 at Canton and Rural Fire District 2 at Marquette. Both of the latter provide ambulance services for those communities. The tax will take effect April 1, 2026, with a five-year sunset.  You can find out more about how the tax will work by clicking here.  Operational expenses for McPherson EMS currently are partly funded by Ad Valorem collections in the City of McPherson's annual budget. The new funding source provides an opportunity for the McPherson City Commission to lower those rates in the 2027 budget process.

U.S. Highway 56 upgrades?

Those interested in learning about potential expansions on U.S. Highway 56 east of McPherson are invited to attend an open house on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, at the McPherson Community Building, 122 E. Marlin.  The meeting will take place from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. with no formal presentation. Kansas Department of Transportation officials will be on hand to discuss potential improvements proposed along the corridor from McPherson to the U.S. 77 intersection east of Marion. 

Community Dinner

For those with no plans for the Christmas holiday, the McPherson Community Dinners organization puts on a Christmas meal at the McPherson Community Building. The City of McPherson donates the use of the Community Building for several days during the holiday with the Community Dinners organization leading the volunteer effort to put on the popular event. For more information, you can call 620-747-2760 or email mcphersoncommunitydinners@gmail.com

Parade of Lights!

The annual McPherson Parade of Lights will be in a new location this year. The parade will set up at Mulberry and Woodside Streets and head east on First Street to  Main Street, then head south with a host of food trucks set up at the Main Street Plaza in downtown McPherson. Spectators are advised to watch from Hospital Drive to the east on First Street and along the route down Main Street.  For more information, check out the Parade of Lights on Facebook.

Project updates

Northview sidewalk

Work continues on both sides of the road in the Northview 10-foot sidewalk project, Phase II.  Crews finished up some dirt grading over the new underground drainage on the south side of the road, nearly making it to Grimes Street working from east to west.  On the north side where the 10-foot sidewalk has been poured, crews have made it all the way to Veranda (pictured) with the exception of a few areas where utilities need to be moved.  Weather permitting, the crews should start pouring ramps and approaches at the streets.  This is Phase III of the Northview project and was funded mostly by a Transportation Alternatives Grant through the Kansas Department of Transportation. The new sidewalk, west from Main Street to Veranda,  joins the 10-foot sidewalk poured last year from Main Street west to the Meadowlark Trail at the U.S. Highway 81 Bypass. 

Myers Street

Recent winter weather put a short stop on a few projects taking place in the City. The City of McPherson Street Department, though, poured some of the last remaining sections of concrete in the 800 block of N. Myers Street and were working on backfilling and hydroseeding areas.  The crew did some minor maintenance in the 1100 block and added more asphalt millings. Two sections of Myers Street will remain millings until the 2026 mill & overlay cycle.  

Get a Free*

gingerbread house

As it does each year, the McPherson Convention & Visitors Bureau will be handing out a free gingerbread house to those who might wish to participate in a friendly competition.  The event is co-hosted by the CVB and Walmart Supercenter of McPherson. Those wishing to get a gingerbread house can bring a canned food item to the McPherson CVB Office at 1111 E. Kansas Ave., from 7:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 8., until the houses are gone.  Those who get a gingerbread house and want to participate in the competition can send a picture of their completed gingerbread house to the CVB via email at director@visitmcpherson.com by 5 p.m. on Dec. 15. For more information, visit the McPherson CVB on Facebook.  Simultaneously on Monday, the CVB will join the United Way of McPherson County to stuff the trolley with food items.

Trolley fun not done

The cheer just keeps getting spread inside the trolley. On Dec. 22, 2025, the CVB will host a free caroling, cookies and cocoa event at two times — 2 & 2:30 p.m. The trolley will board at the McPherson Museum, but you must have a ticket to board. For a free ticket, stop by the McPherson CVB office at 1111 E. Kansas Ave.