The Nicodemus National Historic Site may look significantly different in the years to come.

The oldest and only remaining all-black settlement west of the Mississippi River is one of only seven national park units selected to participate in the Designing the Parks Initiative / Parks for People Program.  Kansas State University is one of two University design teams selected to study Nicodemus.

Students from design and planning studios of K-State School of Architecture and Planning met with the Nicodemus community Saturday to kick-off their semester of study.   Superintendent Mark Weaver welcomed the students while residents Thomas Wellington and Angela Bates provided insight into the community.

The students’ successful proposal calls for the generation of a wide range of sustainable community development alternatives. The studios will explore and analyze community strengths, regional health, family dynamics, public education, partnerships, community development strategies, best practices, forecasting models, economic development, marketing, and history as components of thoughtful design.

The Designing the Parks partnership consists of the National Park Service, The Cultural Landscape Foundation, University of Virginia, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, Institute at the Golden Gate, George Wright Society, National Parks Conservation Association, and the Van Alen Institute.