Shovels hit the dirt on Friday, August 9 for the groundbreaking ceremony of Bietigheim-Bissingen Park, a new City park at 159th and Quivira. Named after Overland Park’s sister city in Germany, the new park plans to weave culture with recreation.
Adding a unique international touch, the groundbreaking ceremony included a virtual “portal” to Germany, with representatives from Bietigheim-Bissingen participating in the groundbreaking. Mayor Jürgen Kessing and artist Dieter Kränzlein, who will create artwork for the park, attended virtually.
Mayor Curt Skoog addressed attendees on the park’s role in highlighting the relationship between the two cities.
“Bietigheim-Bissingen is a place that embodies rich cultural heritage that I cannot wait to see come across in the architecture we have planned for this park,” shared Skoog.
Overland Park established a formal sister city relationship with Bietigheim-Bissingen in 1999. Since then, Overland Park and German officials have been working together to establish economic development opportunities for the two communities, in addition to furthering cultural and educational ties.
Bietigheim-Bissingen Park will incorporate architectural and cultural inspirations from its namesake, strengthening the cultural and educational ties established over the past 25 years of the sister city relationship. The park’s amenities will include a playground, multi-use trail, shelter, restrooms, water feature, entry plaza, games, open lawn, parking, picnic tables and a garden.
Construction on the park is scheduled to begin in fall 2024 and be completed in late 2025.
Learn more about the park and follow along with the progress at opkansas.org/BBPark.
Groundbreaking Ceremony Photos
