Community members can review and provide input on Douglas County’s developing Wakarusa Vision Plan at an upcoming open house.
The plan will serve as a “guiding framework that balances conservation values within the Wakarusa River corridor with the needs of a growing community,” according to a county news release.
Kim Criner Ritchie, the county’s sustainability manager, said implementation is a priority in the county’s Open Space Plan.
“We’re inviting residents to help shape a vision that honors the land’s diverse heritage while integrating strategies that balance the challenges and opportunities of a growing community and a changing climate,” Criner Ritchie said in the release. “Their input is essential to creating a resilient and inclusive framework for generations to come.”
The come-and-go style open house is set for 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20 at Douglas County Public Works, 3755 E. 25th St. It’s free to attend and refreshments will be provided.
The open house is within the second of three phases in the process to form the Wakarusa Vision Plan, according to the release.
Douglas County is partnered with Biohabitats, Alta Design and Hoxie Collective, according to the release. Representatives from the cities of Lawrence and Eudora as well as Haskell Indian Nations University serve on a guiding team.
In the first phase, nature-based solutions company Biohabits conducted an analysis. The guiding team reviewed insights from experts and stakeholders, and property owners within the area boundaries were invited to take a survey.
The Douglas County Commission will consider a draft of the Wakarusa Vision Plan in spring 2026 as part of the third phase.
Learn more about the developing Wakarusa River Valley Plan on the county’s website, dgcoks.gov.
Note: This article has been updated from a previous version.
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