By Jennifer Theurer
According to a recent article by Kansas News Service reporter Dylan Lysen, a theme park spotlighting famous toys including Barbie and Hot Wheels is coming to Kansas.
Bonner Springs officials are planning for the park to be built in the northeast corner of city limits near The Legends shopping and sports venue area. They’re hoping the location of the park will protect the core of Bonner Springs from losing its small-town feel but still allow it to benefit from the increased property tax revenue.
Funding for the project has been secured through Sales Tax and Revenue Bonds, or STAR Bonds. STAR Bonds are loans secured by a municipality that are paid off through state and local sales tax revenue generated by the project. Sales taxes collected in the special district go to paying back the bonds instead of being collected by governments.
Zach Mohr, a public finance expert at the University of Kansas, worries that Kansas is on the hook for too many STAR Bond projects and “are committing the state to lots and lots of money.” If visitors to the area’s attractions make their purchases online, the state may not be able to sustain major projects any longer.
Bonner Springs Mayor Tom Stephens said the community is cautiously optimistic about the project that could bring many thousands of visitors in. Developers told the city that the project will include the theme park, an indoor rainforest, retail space and hotels. Stephens said construction may begin in 2027 with a projected opening in 2031, the same year as the Chiefs expect to open their new stadium in the area.
