Landplan Engineering, P. A.

Downtown Merriam Revitalization

Merriam, KS

The City of Merriam, Kansas retained Landplan Engineering in the winter of 2002 to work with the City and the Downtown Merriam Partnership to begin implementation of a downtown revitalization plan. The one and one-half mile project corridor along Merriam Drive from Shawnee Mission Parkway to Antioch Road includes Historic Downtown Merriam.

Many of the sidewalks in the Historic Downtown District are narrow, leaving limited pedestrian access to storefronts. Landplan was responsible for determining a street configuration that would provide improved pedestrian access, improved traffic flow and safety on Merriam Drive, and widened sidewalks for streetscape beautification and improving the geometrics of the Johnson Drive intersection. Utility conflicts had a significant impact on the ultimate design of the streetscape.

An important project component was the development of unifying elements for the entire corridor. To achieve this, Landplan developed unique entry monument signs and a streetscape plan composed of decorative paving, landscape features, street trees, and repeated pillar features, all drawn from the successful Merriam Marketplace aesthetics. Also, an architectural facade design guideline document was created in collaboration with our architectural sub-consultant.