Manhattan City Digest
Manhattan celebrates local museums and cultural attractions in May
City to suspend hourly fees and update procedures at Aggieville Parking Garage
Beginning June 1, 2026, the City of Manhattan will temporarily suspend hourly parking rates, ParkMobile registration, and nose-in parking requirements at the Aggieville Parking Garage to support business access and visitor convenience during the Moro Street reconstruction project. Following unanimous approval by city commissioners at their April 21 meeting, the garage will also implement a new 48-hour time limit and repaint spaces to feature wider, 90-degree stalls going up and angled stalls going down. These temporary changes apply only to the Aggieville Parking Garage—leaving Downtown Parking Garage rules and rates unchanged—and are expected to remain in place through 2027 or 2028. Once Moro Street construction is substantially complete, the city will review a broader parking plan for the Aggieville business district, City Park, and nearby neighborhoods, and residents can read the updated resolution at manhattanks.gov.
Vivienne Leyva returns to City of Manhattan in communications leadership role
The City of Manhattan welcomed Vivienne Leyva in late March as its new communications and marketing manager and public information officer. Leyva returns to the city after previously serving in the same role from 2017 to 2021. Most recently, she spent four years as the public information officer for Riley County, where she supported communication for county departments during routine updates as well as emergency situations.
Manhattan marks 49 years as a Tree City USA with Arbor Day planting in Longs Park
On April 22, Manhattan Parks and Recreation partnered with the Manhattan Area Retired Educators Association to plant a Kentucky coffeetree in Longs Park in recognition of Earth Day and Arbor Day. The community planting celebrates Manhattan's 49th year as a Tree City USA, a designation from the Arbor Day Foundation recognizing the city’s continued commitment to environmental stewardship and urban forestry. Highlighting the value of community collaboration in caring for shared public spaces, the event served as a reminder of the many environmental benefits trees provide, including improving air quality, offering shade, supporting wildlife, and helping manage stormwater for future generations.
Manhattan celebrates local museums and cultural attractions in May
During the April 21 City Commission meeting, Mayor Susan E. Adamchak proclaimed May as Museum Month in Manhattan. Residents are encouraged to celebrate by visiting outstanding local institutions, including the Wolf House Museum and the Pioneer Log Cabin in City Park, to experience the history, art, science and culture they bring to the community. The initiative highlights how these institutions preserve history, spark curiosity, support lifelong learning, and strengthen community connections. Featured local destinations include the Flint Hills Discovery Center, Museum of Art + Light, Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art, Riley County Historical Museum, Midwest Dream Car Collection, Wonder Workshop Children’s Museum, Sunset Zoo, Kansas State University Gardens, Kansas State University Insect Zoo, Kansas State University Historic Textile and Costume Museum, Goodnow House State Historic Site, and the Wolf House Museum.
Humanities Kansas to present 'Food for the Journey' at Arrow Cocktail Lounge
The Flint Hills Discovery Center will host a "Drinks and Thinks" event on April 28 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Arrow Cocktail Lounge for "Food for the Journey" with Theressa Rice, part of the "Kansas Folklife: Celebrating Kansas Traditions" series from Humanities Kansas. Rice's presentation explores the foods African Americans brought with them as they migrated to Kansas, rooted in stories from her family's migration from Oklahoma and Texas, her grandparents' farm, and traditional Sunday suppers featuring hunted rabbit, fried chicken, boiled potatoes and fresh berry pies. The talk is free, but reservations are required.
Tickets on sale for 19th annual Wine in the Wild at Sunset Zoo
Tickets are now on sale for the 19th annual Wine in the Wild, scheduled from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 6, 2026, at Sunset Zoo. This year's "Around the World" theme is inspired by the international soccer tournament coming to the Kansas City region and will feature wines from across the globe, including selections from local Kansas vintners.
Flint Hills Festival returns to Blue Earth Plaza
The annual Flint Hills Festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 2, 2026, at Blue Earth Plaza to celebrate the culture and beauty of the region. The community festival features live entertainment, food trucks, children's activities and displays from community groups. Thanks to generous support from Visit Manhattan and the Flint Hills Discovery Center Foundation, admission to both the festival in Blue Earth Plaza and the Flint Hills Discovery Center is completely free, though attendees should note that some vendors will have items for purchase and certain activities will have a cost.
Source: MHK Insider Newsletter
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