Topeka officials hear from outsider on riverfront, hope to spur development soon

Topeka Mayor Michelle De La Isla sees riverfront development as the city’s next big win.

De La Isla was part of conversations Monday between city government, Greater Topeka Partnership members and out-of-towner Carol Coletta, president and CEO of the Memphis River Parks Partnership. Coletta visited Topeka to survey the city’s development and offer constructive criticism about how the city plans to make the Kansas River a focal point of its community.

“I’m very excited about the opportunity you have here, and I saw a tremendous commitment today — people who hung around all day long — to talk about the opportunity and figure out what are the next moves,” Coletta said. “I think they’re very practical, very action-oriented. I expect a lot of momentum to develop over the next several months to make this riverfront what it can be, ought to be, for Topeka.”