This is really a special day not only for the citizens in District V but for all the citizens of Wichita. Today we are seeing what people had said was impossible, become a reality...the Cowskin Creek Water Quality Reclamation Facility.

As the Mayor said, this project faced a lot of opposition early on. But through lots of community dialogue, we persevered, because we knew how important this project was to our community.

Today, we celebrate the result of that collaboration. This award-winning facility will provide recreational and educational opportunities as well as the operational uses that it was originally designed for. American City & County magazine presented the City with the prestigious “Crown Community Award” for the facility’s mission to expand treatment while restoring nature. Cowskin Creek also received an award from the Wichita Society of Professional Engineers. So as you can imagine, we are really proud of this location and hope you will be as well.

The entire site will serve as an interpretive and recreational resource for all citizens and an educational and research opportunity for students and teachers.

The wetlands, that were mentioned earlier, will feature waterfowl, raptors, songbirds and mammals that are native to this area. In addition, people can learn more about the functional aspect of the facility. At the treatment site, a public use access area explains the workings of the facility through displays.

A lot of individuals came together to make it a reality. And I would be remiss if I did not take this opportunity to acknowledge them. I would like to thank the following individuals:

• Mike Schomaker and Bruce Barnes from Professional Engineering Consultants;

• Tom Dondlinger from Dondlinger Construction;

• Steve Perry from McCluggage, Perry, Van Sickle;

• David Warren, director of the City’s Water & Sewer Dept., for his outstanding work, and that of his staff, on this tremendous project;

• Ron Hammerschmidt and Karl Mueldener from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment;

• Tom Swan, Ken McCollosky and Charlie Cope with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks;

• Bob Gress from the Great Plains Nature Center; and

• Greg Ferris, for his guidance and vision in the project’s beginning stages; and

• Wess Galyon and the Wichita Area Business Association for their support of this project.

The Cowskin Creek Water Quality Reclamation Facility will be a vital resource for the entire Wichita community. I thank everyone for attending today’s grand opening and I invite you to be frequent patrons of the wetlands, fishing ponds and recreational areas.