Manhattan Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
Week of April 15, 2026
Steel and Pipe Supply Ballpark opens amid parking concerns
New ballpark features dual-camera AI streaming test
Pedestrian bridge nears completion
Parks department deploys fleet of 34 robotic mowers
City commission tables indoor aquatics facility expansion
Youth basketball sees record enrollment, adds competitive league
Parks and recreation scholarship funding surges 169 percent
Sunset Zoo prepares to launch lemur exhibit design phase
Advisory board debates responsibility for broken 1800s tombstones
Steel and Pipe Supply Ballpark opens amid parking concerns
MANHATTAN, Kan. - Manhattan's newly renovated Steel and Pipe Supply Ballpark officially opened March 29, successfully hosting its first baseball tournament despite heavy rain that would have previously flooded the complex. However, the facility's success immediately highlighted significant parking shortages, as baseball traffic clashed with livestock events at the shared CiCo Park complex. Manhattan Parks and Recreation Department officials acknowledged the congestion and plan to coordinate future event scheduling with Riley County and USD 383 Manhattan-Ogden to alleviate the bottleneck.
New ballpark features dual-camera AI streaming test
MANHATTAN, Kan. - The Steel and Pipe Supply Ballpark is serving as a beta test site for a new dual-camera streaming system through Pixellot. The setup, which features automated cameras behind home plate and in center field, uses artificial intelligence to seamlessly switch broadcast angles based on the action on the field. Officials noted that it is the only dual-camera system of its kind currently deployed in the country, and the city received a discount for participating in the beta test.
Pedestrian bridge nears completion
MANHATTAN, Kan. - A highly anticipated pedestrian bridge in Warner Park is set to open in May, completing a major trail loop originally identified in the city's 2019 master plan. The construction was heavily supported by a $97,000 trails grant from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, and city crews are currently finalizing the natural surface trail connections to the bridge.
Parks department deploys fleet of 34 robotic mowers
MANHATTAN, Kan. - The Manhattan Parks and Recreation Department has expanded its fleet of robotic mowers to 34 units, deploying them to maintain 10 acres of city property, including Blue Earth Plaza and the newly opened Steel and Pipe Supply Ballpark. The transition to automated turf maintenance is projected to save the city approximately $36,000 annually by reducing the need for external mowing contracts.
City commission tables indoor aquatics facility expansion
MANHATTAN, Kan. - Despite a recent community survey that garnered more than 1,300 responses, the Manhattan City Commission has tabled an amendment that would have advanced the development of an indoor aquatics facility. Manhattan Parks and Recreation Department officials confirmed they are not pursuing any updates or additions to the city's aquatics services at this time, effectively halting the project unless the city commission resumes discussions.
Youth basketball sees record enrollment, adds competitive league
MANHATTAN, Kan. - The city's youth recreation basketball program reached a record 607 enrollments this winter, marking a 13 percent increase from the previous year. To accommodate growing demand and provide a local alternative to expensive, time-consuming travel sports circuits, the department successfully launched a six-team competitive league, bringing total youth basketball participation to nearly 700 local children.
Parks and recreation scholarship funding surges 169 percent
MANHATTAN, Kan. - Financial access to Manhattan Parks and Recreation Department programs expanded dramatically in the first quarter, with awarded scholarship dollars increasing by 169 percent compared to the previous year. Board members praised the Manhattan Parks and Recreation Foundation for the surge in funding, noting the scholarships are crucial for allowing lower-income residents to participate in city athletics and instructional activities.
Sunset Zoo prepares to launch lemur exhibit design phase
MANHATTAN, Kan. - Following approval from the Manhattan City Commission, Sunset Zoo is moving forward with the next phase of its facility master plan, an initiative dubbed "Lemurs in America." The Manhattan Parks and Recreation Department expects to review construction manager submissions in early June and plans to officially begin the architectural design phase for the new primate exhibit July 1.
Advisory board debates responsibility for broken 1800s tombstones
MANHATTAN, Kan. - The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board debated how to handle more than a dozen broken, 19th-century tombstones near the main entrance of Sunset Cemetery. While city staff clarified that the monuments remain private property belonging to the deceased individuals' heirs, board members discussed the aesthetic impact on the park and floated the possibility of establishing a private foundation to fund the restoration of the deteriorating historical markers.
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