Manhattan, Riley County differ on whether to pave parking lot in CiCo Park

Riley County and the City of Manhattan are at odds over whether a parking lot within CiCo Park should be paved.

Staff from both government entities along with engineers and architects met earlier this week as the city moves forward on upgrades to the ball fields on its parcel within CiCo park. Part of those upgrades include paving the north lot, which sits just west of the ball fields. However, most of the parking lot is on Riley County property. Extension Director Gary Fike shared his perspective on KMAN’s In Focus Wednesday.

The issue was brought up at Thursday’s Riley County Commission meeting. County Clerk Rich Vargo says despite one engineer’s claim that the issue is irrelevant since it’s a community park, he reminded that it still encroaches on the county’s legal interest within the park.

Vargo added that the issue is also a matter of principle since the city hasn’t been clear on its stance through this process.

Riley County has pointed to a lack of communication from the City of Manhattan. Despite this claim, Assistant City Manager Wyatt Thompson noted in June to the Parks and Rec Advisory Board that the city would come to the table with Riley County on CiCo Park improvements. Fike says he appreciates that but says some elected officials weren’t aware of this until recently.

The conversation will continue as the city, county and USD 383 plan to hash things out publicly at a 4 p.m. joint meeting next Thursday in City Hall.

Riley County owns the largest parcel within CiCo Park at roughly 54.5 acres, including the fairgrounds, Pottorf Hall, the southeast playground near Wreath and Dickens Ave and most of the dirt parking lot south of Bishop Stadium, including the property the CiCo Park pool sits on. The City of Manhattan operates the pool through an easement with the county. The City of Manhattan owns nearly 16 acres in the northeastern quadrant, including the baseball fields and a portion of the north parking lot, while USD 383 owns approximately 19 acres, that includes Bishop Stadium and the tennis courts.