Big investments in Overland Park are starting to come to life, and city leaders expect to see more in the coming years.
That was the overarching theme of Mayor Curt Skoog’s annual State of the City address Tuesday, given before a crowd gathered on the Johnson County Community College campus at an event hosted by the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce.
He emphasized some of the city’s major accomplishments from last year and cast a hopeful vision for the future.
“It’s clear that Overland Park continues to thrive. We’re a city on the move, constantly evolving and adapting to meet the needs of our residents and businesses,” Skoog said. “I’m confident that together we can continue to build a brighter future for Overland Park.”
On a more personal note, Skoog spent time expressing gratitude for his family, wife, Amy, and the broader community who supported him as he recovered from a medical emergency and car accident last fall.
Major infrastructure projects are underway
- In 2024, Overland Park’s expanded infrastructure sales tax took effect, bringing in more money dedicated to projects like stormwater management, sidewalk replacement street preservation and rehabilitation, as well as other major efforts.
- Additionally, Skoog highlighted the city’s completion of the 167th Street reconstruction between Switzer and Antioch roads a year ahead of schedule.
- Looking ahead, Overland Park is planning more major roadwork projects, including building out Quivira Road between 179th and 187th streets where there is currently a gap, lane reductions on Santa Fe Drive and Nall Avenue, and the realignment of 82nd Street at Metcalf Avenue.
New police chief and firehouse
- Overland Park unveiled a rebuilt Firehouse No. 41 near 75th and Conser streets, which features a design aimed at boosting firefighters’ mental and physical health.
- The city also hired its first two first responders who graduated from the Blue Valley Career Ready Fire Science Program, Skoog said.
- Also last year, police chief Doreen Jokerst took over the top cop position for Overland Park, the first woman to serve in that role in the city’s history.
- Most recently, Jokerst served as the Chief of Police for the University of Colorado Boulder and has a background in community policing.
Overland Park is using new comprehensive plan
- Last spring, Overland Park adopted its first new comprehensive plan in roughly 40 years.
- The new plan, called Framework OP, is meant to “guide development in our city for decades to come,” Skoog said.
- It also came with recommended actions to ensure it is implemented and utilized as intended.
- Chief among them is a suggestion to update the Unified Development Ordinance — a set of standards that dictates a variety of development factors — to align with the new comprehensive plan.
- Following some interim updates completed late last year, the city has embarked on a multiyear effort to complete that process.
Notable changes to downtown Overland Park
- Overland Park recently gave the green light to a mixed-use project at 8036 Metcalf Ave. that’s expected to bring online more than 200 new apartment units.
- Just this week, the city started the process of mulling incentives for that development, including a possible tax increment financing district as well as a limited special sales tax.
- Late last year, the city also said goodbye to the long-time farmers market pavilion in the heart of downtown, making way for a new pavilion, gathering space and other improvements to the area.
- That $34 million project — dubbed Clock Tower Landing — is expected to open in 2026, just in time for the FIFA World Cup.
- “This revitalization will continue the progress downtown, attracting more visitors and boosting our local economy,” Skoog said.
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