$6.75 million in grant money awarded for Topeka Zoo, Constitution Hall
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Wednesday was “a great day for tourism in Topeka,” said Sean Dixon, the president of Visit Topeka Inc.
He announced the state of Kansas had awarded $3.75 million in grant funding for destination development at downtown Topeka’s Constitution Hall, which was the site of events that helped shape this nation’s history.
The state also awarded $3 million for that same purpose to Friends of the Topeka Zoo, which manages the zoo in Gage Park, said zoo director Brendan Wiley.
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$100 million in grants was available
The zoo and Constitution Hall are among recipients benefiting from the state’s “Building a Stronger Economy” grant program, which helps support infrastructure development and advance economic development opportunities across Kansas.
Gov. Laura Kelly announced in January that the state would make $100 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding available to facilitate the completion of projects that qualify under the requirements of the American Rescue Plan Act.
Applicants had to document how the COVID-19 pandemic delayed or otherwise negatively affected their projects. Recipients will be required to match 25% of the funding they receive.
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How will Constitution Hall use its money?
The award to Constitution Hall closes “a large funding gap for us,” said Dixon, who sits on the board for Friends of the Free State Capitol, an organization working toward opening that building at 427-429 S. Kansas Ave. as a tourist attraction.
That award “pretty much puts us within reach of being able to get this open to the public in the near term,” he said.
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Though considerable work has been done to the structure’s exterior, the grant money “would allow us to get the inside done,” Dixon said.
The funding announced Wednesday will be used to carry out work involving flooring, ceiling, utilities and insulation, as well as putting in required elevators, Dixon said.
“This will essentially get the inside of the building up to where we need it to be for consideration for museum and gathering space,” he said.
Constitution Hall, which is two stories tall and has a basement, was built in 1855 of native stone and timber. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Constitution Hall became a focus of controversy after Missourians crossed the border in large numbers during the Kansas Territory’s first election in March 1855 to vote illegally while electing a territorial Legislature that was pro-slavery.
That Legislature was recognized by the federal government.
Kansas opposed to slavery responded by holding a convention in 1855 at Constitution Hall and adopting their own constitution, which was approved by the public in an election pro-slavery advocates didn’t recognize.
A free-state Legislature was elected and began meeting in March 1856 at Constitution Hall.
The U.S. Army dispersed that Legislature on July 4, 1856, at the order of President Franklin Pierce.
After Kansas became a state in 1861, Legislators met in Constitution Hall until the current Statehouse was occupied.
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How will FOTZ use its grant money?
The grant money awarded to FOTZ will be used to complete infrastructure work on the giraffe facility it’s constructing and expand parking on the southwest side of the zoo, Wiley said.
The money might also be used to develop an “event lawn” where the current giraffe exhibit stands, he said.
“If we can stretch the budget out enough, it would also develop a fire department access drive along a portion of the east side of the zoo,” he said.
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Announcement came during time of travel conference convention
Dixon said that from a general tourism standpoint, he felt thrilled that Wednesday’s announcement comes at the same time the annual African-American Travel Conference is being held in Topeka.
That conference began Tuesday and runs through Thursday at Hotel Topeka at City Center, 1717 S.W. Topeka Blvd.
The AATC is an association of 2,500 travel planners serving the African-American community, its website says.
A small group of participants from the conference was expected to visit Constitution Hall Wednesday afternoon, Dixon said.
Tim Hrenchir can be reached at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.
