City of Parsons to trade property with First Baptist on intersection improvement project

First Baptist Church will swap land with the city of Parsons to facilitate an upcoming intersection improvement project.

Parsons city commissioners approved an agreement with the church on Monday that will allow the city to take possession of the church’s property at the northwest corner of 16th and Main. The city will get enough land to widen the intersection to add turn lanes.

In return, the church will receive land at the southwest corner of 16th and Washington. The city bought that land from Thomas Sprague for $12,500 in May 2017 as a potential right of way for the intersection project. The city had to demolish an abandoned house there.

Darrell Moyer, director of engineering and public works, said the properties being exchanged are about equal in size.

In addition to adding up to four left-turn lanes, the intersection project will include the resurfacing of 16th Street (U.S. 59) from Main to north of Clark Avenue, larger storm inlets and pipes and new sidewalks. The Kansas Department of Transportation will pay for all construction costs through the city’s corridor access management plan.

(Read more: Parsons Sun)