The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks has announced its plans for a recently-purchased facility in west Emporia and its current facility on the Emporia State University campus.
Chief of Public Affairs Nadia Reimer says the recently-bought warehouse and surrounding property at 3601 West Sixth will let the department have additional storage, laboratory and office space for Emporia’s Research and Survey staff. This will let the current building at 1830 Merchant maintain its current role as the department’s full-service office for fishing and hunting licenses, boat registrations and park permits.
At this time, Wildlife and Parks has 14 full-time employees working through the Merchant Street office, with specialties connected to upland game animals, migratory birds, fisheries, furbearers and wildlife disease.
Besides nearly quintupling the space of the 4,250-square foot location on Merchant, the West Sixth property helps Wildlife and Parks research programs by increasing federal grant opportunities to study invasive species, keep large equipment on site and create a dedicated laboratory space.
Reimer also says Emporia State University faculty and staff will be welcome at the new lab, creating a new learning opportunity along with the recently-opened Prophet Aquatic Research and Outreach Center and continuing a cooperative agreement forged in the 1980s.
As part of Dynamic Distribution’s move to the former Detroit Reman property in the 800 block of Overlander early this year, Emporia Enterprises took over the West Sixth location with the intent of finding a buyer. It was purchased by the Stephen L Sauder Trust in June. The trust was in the process of finalizing a long-term lease with an unnamed Fortune 500 company before those negotiations failed. An agreement with Wildlife and Parks was finalized almost a month ago.
