The City of Wichita has proposed building a new Community/Recreation Center at the McAdams Park.


The City of Wichita has proposed building a new Community/Recreation Center at the McAdams Park. McAdams Park is located in northeast Wichita, in the city’s first district. In 1966, it was renamed in honor of Emerson McAdams, a long-time recreation employee. District I councilman Brandon Johnson said that history would not be forgotten or overlooked.
“The name McAdams is the glue that holds everything together from all the courses that you saw, the swimming pool. And in this facility, we’ll actually tell the story of Emerson McAdams. Right now, you can’t find that anywhere at the park,” said Johnson. “So, we want to highlight who Emerson McAdams was and his contributions but also honor the first elected African American mayor, Carl Brewer. And, some of the conversations that he and I had about that rec center and wanting to do some big things, and now, we have that opportunity.” However, the public has mixed feelings regarding whose name should be attached to the new building.