CITY OF DE SOTO NEWSLETTER

Your City Hall news bulletin with updates on all things De Soto.

June 2nd, 2023

City News & Updates

Summer Events - Upcoming


It’s officially summer event season! Bring your chairs & blankets to the park and enjoy FREE events starting this June.


Saturday, June 10th - Movie:

  • Feature Film: Top Gun Maverick
  • Where: Miller Park
  • When: Dark, approximately 9pm


Friday, June 23rd - Concert:

  • Artist: Lost Wax
  • Where: Riverfest Park
  • When: 7pm

Summer Event Vendors


Calling all vendors!


Summer concert & 4th of July vendor spots are open!



There is no vendor fee, and electrical service is provided.

Contain the Rain - Pollinators


June is National Pollinators Month, which encourages planting native pollen and nectar-producing plant gardens. 


With our Contain the Rain program, when you plant pollinator-friendly flowers, shrubs, or trees, you can receive up to 50% of the cost back.

Which native plants are approved?

We're Hiring


Come join our team! We're hiring several new positions -- full-time, part-time, and seasonal:

  • Water Distribution Worker
  • Building Inspector
  • Seasonal Street Maintenance
  • Lifeguards & Concessions
  • Umpires/Sports Officials
  • Building Custodian/Gym Monitor (PT)


Check out our Job Board for more info.

City Council Meeting Recap

The De Soto City Council held its regularly scheduled meeting last night, June 1st, at City Hall. View the agenda here. Here is a quick run-down:


  • Approved display permit and contract for 4th of July fireworks display
  • Approved donation request for Spring Fling event
  • Approved resolution to allow cereal malt beverages at Summer Concert events
  • Approved bid for City Hall remodel project design services
  • Approved agreement for well field pipe cleaning
  • Approved the 2023 Road Maintenance Program
  • Discussed current Water and Sewer system development fees and meter rates
  • Discussed 2024 budget
Watch the Meeting

Parks & Recreation

Aquatic Center Memberships


The De Soto Aquatic Center is open! Hours are 12:30pm-7:00pm every day.


Purchase your season memberships here.


For more information about membership prices or pool opportunities in general, check out the Aquatics Center page.

Swim Lessons


Registration for swim lessons are open for all skill levels, parent-tot to Level 5; sign up here!


  • Fee: $35 - per session
  • Class size: 3-8 participants
  • Sessions:
  • June 19th - 29th
  • July 10th - 20th
  • July 24th - August 4th

Construction & Development

KDOT Construction Updates


The Kansas Department of Transportation has committed to deliver the transportation infrastructure improvements necessary to support the Panasonic Energy Co. electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing facility in De Soto.


Construction on the Lexington/103rd Street street-widening project, between Evening Star Road and the Lexington Avenue/K-10 interchange, is anticipated to begin June 12th. This local road improvement project is scheduled for substantial completion in December 2024.



  • The first stretch of road closed to through traffic will be from Astra Parkway (formerly Main Ave) to Edgerton Road. 
  • Sunflower Baseball Fields will remain open and be accessible on 103rd Street via Evening Star Road through July 31st.



For more information on this project, visit KDOT's De Soto Road Improvements page.

Development FAQs


Thanks to those who submitted questions about development in De Soto after our last newsletter! We'll answer some new ones below, and you can read more FAQs on the City website


Have a question?

Submit it here!

Is the City performing eminent domain on houses in our community? 



Thus far, the City has engaged in successful negotiations with over 30 homeowners and landowners regarding right-of-way acquisitions for infrastructure improvements south of K-10. In these cases, all parties have been able to reach mutually agreed-upon settlements that include relocation to a higher-value home and compensation for moving expenses and any inconveniences caused. Eminent domain typically comes into play when a resolution cannot be reached between the property owner and the City, leading to a legal process. The City would only use eminent domain as a last resort.


What benefits will the citizens of De Soto receive for the newly-approved Solar Farm?


The City recently approved zoning that would pave the way for a utility-scale solar farm at Astra Enterprise Park. No actual plan for a solar farm has been presented to the City yet.


However, City Council approved the zoning because a solar farm would offer a number of benefits for area residents, including:

  • An investment worth hundreds of millions of dollars into our community. 
  • Fees remitted to our City budget that are tied to the amount of energy produced and used. 
  • Increasing our resiliency, allowing us to have energy in the face of a disaster.  
  • Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, leading to cleaner air.
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