Commissioner Riphahn speaks on courthouse, Family Park, Old Prairie Town

12 April 2024

TOPEKA (KSNT) – Shawnee County Commissioner Bill Riphahn talked about Tulips at Twilight at Old Prairie Town, courthouse renovations and the groundbreaking of Family Park.

27 News Anchor Matthew Johnstone asked Riphahn if commissioners are excited about taking the next step on Family Park.

“You know we are excited,” Riphahn said. “This size of park is considered a community park and we haven’t built a community park in over 50 years. And so, time has come and this will serve a lot of people especially over there on the west side of Topeka.”

The center will be getting 16 pickleball courts, an open-air shelter and a destination playground.

“A destination playground is a big playground that will bring people from all over,” Riphahn said.


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Regarding courthouse renovations, Riphan expected the work to be completed in December.

“Getting new windows and taking out the original ones,” Riphahn said. “The new ones are so much more efficient and the heating and air conditioning is so much better. I think people enjoy all the improvements. And the public has been very good at bouncing along the tide with us as we have to shuffle people around.”

You can watch the full interview above.

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