Evergy Plaza

In 2014 community leaders were presented with a consultant’s findings on how to recharge downtown Topeka, and the primary recommendation from that study was to build a community gathering space where the citizens of Topeka could come together and take pride in the heart of their city. The leadership of the Topeka Lodging Association began early discussions in 2014 and 2015 about the possibility of increasing the existing lodging tax by 1% to provide funding to design and build a public plaza. This effort was ultimately approved by the Topeka City Council and as a result $3.435M was set aside for the construction of a plaza.  Later in the timeline the Topeka Lodging Association also approved the establishment of a $1.00 per room assessment on every hotel room sold in Topeka.  This will generate approximately $400,000 each year for ten years to subsidize the daily operation of the plaza.

In January of 2017, momentum for the downtown plaza caught on in Topeka when Roger Brooks was asked to come to Topeka and be the keynote speaker at the annual Downtown Topeka Inc. banquet. After the successful groundwork laid by the Topeka Lodging Association the Downtown Topeka Foundation stepped in to take on the role as owner and developer. With the Downtown Topeka Foundation now leading the project, Capitol Federal Savings and Loan and Evergy stepped in to donate $2.5 million. In addition to major donations from the community, the Joint Economic Development Organization in Topeka committed to a $1.250 million donation. The downtown plaza was now a reality for Topeka. And in January of 2019, construction officially began on what would soon to be known as Evergy Plaza.

Once open in summer of 2020, Evergy Plaza will host hundreds of events and programs a year. Events will range from fitness classes to family movie nights, to sports watch parties and concerts. The Evergy Plaza is home to; CapFed^® on 7^th Stage, Crossroads Fountains, Digital Board and small stage (sponsored by Stormont Vail Heath and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas), Mars Wrigley Courtyard, 3 shade pavilions, a 16-foot fire pit and many other attractions.