SperlingViews - McPherson, Kansas

McPherson is located in the center of the state. Easy to get to by I-135 & US 56 Highway. The community has a wholesome attitude, appreciating the simple lifestyle, but having the amenities that a large suburban provide just minutes away. In McPherson it is safe for children & walk & ride their bikes to school, residents walk in the evening. McPherson values the importance of providing the needs of kids with the recent renovation & expansion of the library, the McPherson Family YMCA, the addition of a WaterPark. The beautifully maintained parks & sporting facilities encourage outdoor and family activities. There is no better place to grow up.[read more...]

PARKS McPherson has a number of very beautiful public parks which encompasses over 200 acres. The parks are maintained the year around by the Parks Department. (620) 245-2565. Challenger Park: 300 East Kansas, two acres, four lighted tennis courts, lighted basketball/ice skating rink, restrooms. Hess Park: Canterbury and Northview, two acres, picnic shelter, and children's playground Linnea Park: 301 East Kansas, two acres, picnic shelter, playground, and drinking fountain. Lakeside Park: Lake side and Kansas, 46 acres, cabin for rent, six picnic shelters, volleyball area, restrooms, bandshell, fishing, open fields, Swan Court Garden area, handicap playground equipment and city water park. Memorial Park: 200 West Kansas, two acres, gazebo, "We The People Monument", restrooms, fishpond, grape arbor, unique landscaping, Veteran memorials, and General McPherson monument. Tallgrass Park: 1001 Turkey Creek Drive, two playgrounds, gazebo, and 1/10 mile walking track. Wall Park: Avenue A and Park Street, 60 acres, restrooms, six unlighted tennis courts, three lighted handball courts, baseball field, three softball diamonds, four picnic shelters, playground, fishing, exercise trails, skate park. Wickersham Park: 300 block of West Kansas, two acres, open field, no facilities. RECREATION BOWLING: Starlite Lanes, 900 West Kansas Avenue (620) 241-1200 BATTING CAGES: Wall Park, Maxwell & Avenue A (620) 245-2565 (seasonal) FITNESS CENTERS: Hess Fitness Center, 1000 Hospital Drive (620) 241-2250 McPherson Family YMCA, 220 N. Walnut, (620) 241-0363 McPherson Athletic Club, 1350 N. Main, (620) 245-0900 GOLF COURSES/MINIATURE GOLF: Rolling Acres, Route 3 (620) 241-0630 Turkey Creek, Maxwell & Avenue A (620) 241-8530 McPherson Country Club (Private), Highway 81 (620) 241-3541 HUNTING PRESERVES: Ash Creek, 1713 13th Avenue (620) 241-1849 Double E Pheasant Ranch, Inc., 2038 15th Street (620)241-2134 MOVIE THEATRES: McPherson Cinema IV, (620) 241-2137 SWIMMING: McPherson Water Park, 600,000 gallons of FUN for all ages. It is a family, quality of life water experience. You can select from an assortment of activities; cruise the 500 foot lazy river, a giant water slide, deep diving area, 8 lane 50 meter pool, and a children's spray recreation area. (800) 324-8022 (Open Summers only) McPherson Family YMCA, 220 North Walnut, (620) 241-0360; 25 yd, 4 lane indoor pool. Off[read more...]

District Profile The McPherson Unified School District 418 is recognized as one of the leading school districts in Kansas. The McPherson schools are served by three central office administrators, a full-time special education director, nine building administrators, a food service director, a buildings and grounds director, 249 certified staff and 253 classified staff. The district operates an early education center, four elementary schools, a middle school, a high school, an alternative high school program, and is also the sponsoring district of the McPherson County Special Education Cooperative. Enrollment (K-12) in the McPherson schools is approximately 2550. The four neighborhood elementary schools—kindergarten through 5th grade—have an average regular education class size of 20 students. Each of the McPherson USD 418 elementary schools offers a comprehensive program, including library services, art, vocal and instrumental music, computer-assisted instruction, and special education. Curriculum is developed cooperatively by teachers throughout the district. McPherson Middle School, grades 6-8, offers a broad program of academic and elective exploratory courses. Middle school regular education classes average 24 students. Activities in drama, student government, and athletics are provided for students. McPherson High School, grades 9-12, offers a strong college preparatory program as well as vocational education and career planning services. The average regular education class size at McPherson High School is 20 students. A wide selection of co-curricular and extracurricular programs is available for students. [read more...]

The City of McPherson (pronounced Mc-fur-son) was founded in 1872, and named after General James Birdseye McPherson, a Union General in the Civil War, mortally wounded in the Battle of Atlanta in 1864. A life-size bronze likeness of General McPherson, located in Memorial Park, was dedicated July 4, 1917. McPherson has difficulty in settling for anything less than the best. In fact, in 1887 town fathers laid out a 160-acre "Capitol Hill" and made a bid to become the state capitol. However, Topeka was selected and McPherson went on with other plans. The City of McPherson was conceived and laid out by the McPherson Town Company and the Articles of Incorporation signed on May 28, 1872. The original town fathers had no comprehensive plan to advise them in planning for the future of the city; however, they had considerable vision. A number of plots of ground were set aside to be used for churches, schools, and parks, as well as the two blocks where the courthouse and library are located were designated for county buildings. There were 25 houses on the townsite in 1873, and the town seemed destined to grow and become the hub of the county. In 1879 the Santa Fe and Union Pacific Railroads extended branches to McPherson. The Missouri Pacific and Rock Island Railroads reached McPherson with their lines in 1888. A reminder of the 1880's is the Opera House Building which was one of the finest of its type in the Midwest. The courthouse was constructed in 1894 and refurbished in 1980. Both the Opera House and Court House are on the National Register of Historic Places. They struck oil in McPherson County in the late 1920's, just in time to keep the local economy out of the "Great Depression". After World War II, as farm consolidation began, McPherson had the foresight to develop an industrial base, well before many other towns caught the drift. Centered in one of the largest wheat producing areas of the United States, in fact. . . .the world, McPherson is RANKED AMONG THE TOP INDUSTRIAL CENTERS of Kansas. Our industries employ over 4,000 people. Over 25% of the entire county work force is employed in manufacturing, nearly twice the state average. [read more...]