Leaders hope new park will stimulate growth in downtown Baldwin City

Construction will start next month on a new park in Baldwin City that local leaders hope will stimulate more development downtown.

Earlier this month, the Baldwin City Council approved the design for the so-called Lotatorium, as well as a construction contract not to exceed $670,000. The project will add sidewalks, a stage, a big-screen TV, a splash deck water feature and restrooms to the now-empty lot in the 700 block of High Street, which has long been a site of community events.
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The Baldwin City Chamber of Commerce, the Lumberyard Arts Center, the Baldwin City Academy of Dance and Voice and the library have drawn residents and businesses to downtown, Simoneau and Simmons said, and Simmons is hopeful the Lotatorium will attract even more private developers.

“There are empty lots downtown,” he said. “Business people want to make money. When they see all those people, they will see the opportunities and invest in downtown.”