By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The city of Stafford sits just a few miles southwest of the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge. But people traveling from out of state to see the refuge may not be aware of the communities in the county. Stafford County Eco Devo is trying to make those communities destination points. Working with the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, the city of Stafford will be part of an Engaging Placemaking for Innovative Communities (EPIC) pilot program.
"We're focused on Stafford mainly, but we'll be doing some stuff in Macksville and St. John, as well," said Eco Devo Director Ryan Russell. "Stafford is the gateway to Quivira, so our theme for this project is called 'A Refuge to Explore.' We wanted to do something that's attached to Quivira, to invite people to our county to see Quivira but also to enjoy the different cities in our county as well."
The project includes the installation of 3D whooping crane statues at entrances to cities. In Stafford, a band shell will be placed in the park and pollinator-friendly plants will be added to help attract Monarch butterflies. A crane mural will be painted on the side of the old lumber yard and steel banners featuring cranes will be added to light poles. The intent is to invite people to the wetland.
"If you go out to Quivira, to the entrance, there's nothing," Russell said. "It's farmland on all sides. I was a little shocked, it being a national wetland of importance, that there's no commerce around Quivira at all."
Russell said there are no places to stop for food or drink immediately around Quivira. He challenged residents of the county to tap into the commercial possibilities the refuge offers to the area.