After 50 years of standing tall in City Park, Johnny Kaw will be getting a bit of an upgrade with start of a new renovation project.
The project groundbreaking took place yesterday at the statue in City Park. The project was funded by a multitude of donations and help from individuals and organizations from around the community. The $279,000 project has received nearly one-third of funding from $85,000 cash pledges. Remaining construction costs will be donated with in-kind donations of materials and labor by area businesses and building trades companies.
Mayor Mike Dodson comments.
Friends of Johnny Kaw Chair Ed Klimek opened the ceremony with a little background on what started this project two years.
Klimek said he was told there are groups of people coming to Johnny Kaw everyday to get their picture with him, making him a major attraction.
K-State Historian Jed Dunham was also there and spoke about the history of the tall tale of Johnny Kaw.
Dunham also talked about some of the legends of Johnny Kaw. Those include Johnny dipping dandelions in the Kansas sun to create the sunflower and Johnny dragging his wheat blade through the Flint Hills to carve the Kaw River Valley.
Dodson says artist renderings of the future project are available for those wanting a peek into what the new home for Johnny Kaw will look like.
Members of the Friends of Johnny Kaw, Manhattan City Commissioners, and Riley County Historical Museum broke the ground and the voice of Johnny Kaw himself even spoke during the ceremony and says he is excited for his new home.
