🌾 Pickleball Capital of the Midwest

April 24, 2023 | Sign Up | Support Us

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning Wichita!

The rain coming this week is much needed.

As of 4/20, this is the driest April on record and since the dust bowl.

In today's Wichita Life Update:

Pickleball Complex
New Ramen Spot
Andover Tornado Anniversary

Let's get to it!

- Landon Huslig

$6 Million Pickleball Complex

Wichita will soon have a new $6 million (or $6.15 million to be more exact) pickleball complex in south Wichita.

Here are some highlights about the future complex:

State-of-the-art pickleball complex at South Lakes Park
Estimated completion - February 2024
24 courts

Pickleball is blowing up in Wichita. Between Chicken N Pickle, The Sandbox in Derby, this new facility and all the other parks around town getting upgrades, Wichita may be on its way to becoming the Pickleball capital of the midwest (or US for that matter).

TOGETHER WITH WICHITA SPORTS COMMISSION

Are you ready for the Most Totally Radical Race in Wichita?!

Come run the competitive 5K, or team up for fun with the untimed Friendly 5K, presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas.

What to expect:

• Dress up in your best 80’s gear – prizes for best costume!

• Post-race party with epic tunes and sweet food & drinks

• Runners receive t-shirt, medal, and their race photos (race photos provided by Visit Wichita)

• Top 2 male & female finishers get a KoolTunes bluetooth cooler

Learn More Here

#WichitaLife

@averyperfectpicture | Who doesn't love the Keeper?

Use #WichitaLifeICT to get your post in the Wichita Life Update!

BUSINESS

Opening

JINYA Ramen Bar - 124 S. Broadway - Opening Today
Plazzio Place Apartments - 13th & Greenwich - Opening in 2024

Closing

Walts - 5534 W Central - Now Closed

Nudge Compost

Congrats to Jesse Marks on nearly 5 years of business with Nudge Compost!

If you haven’t heard of Nudge Compost, it is a business where Jesse picks up waste from local businesses, restaurants, and homes and then composts it.

TOGETHER WITH WSU: Recovery Connect

The COVID-19 pandemic took a hit on many of us not only on a personal level, but also on a business level.

Recovery Connect is a Sedgwick County economic recovery program that connects individuals, businesses, and nonprofits with resources to help them recover from the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Was your business affected? You may be able to get some funding or grant assistance.

Learn More Here

LOCAL

Wichita Wizards

Wichita has two professional basketball teams.

1. The Wichita Sky Kings is in its first season here in Wichita and made up from players from all over.

2. The Wichita Wizards which is made up of local players.

Today I just wanted to shine a light on the Wizards who have been around since 2019.

They play ~14 regular-season games and are typically towards the top of their league.

There is also a 501c3 nonprofit formed in 2019 called Wizards in Action which helps out with summer camps and educational programs!

Catch them at their next home game on May 20th at Friends University.

Andover Tornado

We are coming up on the 1 year anniversary of the 2022 Andover Tornado which destroyed more than 200 homes on April 20th.

Hindsight is 20/20, but there are some tips moving forward before another disaster strikes such as taking pictures of all of your belongings and keeping a digital list of your things for insurance purposes.

Andover YMCA

Speaking of the Andover Tornado, the Andover YMCA was one of the victims.

This branch of YMCA is targeting a May 27 reopening of its outdoor waterpark and the rest of the gym is targeted for a 2024 reopening.

Updates to Exploration Place

Exploration Place is one of the best gems of Wichita.

It is about to get some upgrades inside and out over a few phases.

Phase One - There will be a new amphitheater along the river. Estimated completion: 2024

Phase Two - A new "playscape" featuring multi-story, age progressive, and immersive landmarks. Think similar to the Gathering Place in Tulsa. Estimated completion: 2025

Phase Three - Indoor Renovations. Estimated completion: 2025

Excellence

Congrats to Sean Jones and Tim Elsen on winning the Excellence awards as well as $2500.

ICT EXTRA

ICT Brunch Fest

The first ever ICT Brunch Fest is this weekend! Enter to win tickets on our Instagram.

Museum of World Treasures Gala

Head over to our Instagram for a chance to win tickets to the first ever MOWT Gala.

Real Conversations Podcast

If you love podcasts, check out the Real Conversations Podcast with local entrepreneur Jacob O’Connor. He interviews successful entrepreneurs and high performers. Find it on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Secret Kansas

Do you know all of the secrets of Kansas? Including the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure?