Kansas park system absorbing $11M hit from 2019 flooding

The top Kansas parks administrator said Wednesday torrential rains that produced sustained flooding lat year had an estimated $11 million cumulative impact on budgets of the agency responsible for oversight of the state’s recreational parks system.

Brad Loveless, secretary of the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, said the agency would proceed with repairs in 2020 and continue the application process for Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster reimbursements. The state experienced flooding conditions for more than 250 days, especially in eastern Kansas, that limited visitor access and usage at the two dozen parks scattered across Kansas, he said.

“Cumulatively, we estimated the impact to be about $11 million on our budget,” Loveless said. “The great majority is in repairs.”