By Jenni Anima
KMUW
A newly signed path in Wichita’s North End features photos and stories from Mexican immigrants and their descendants who’ve called the neighborhood home for more than a century.
The Woodland Park Historial Walk bends through the park of the same name at 841 N. 21st St., not far from the Little Arkansas River. Its large white panels feature text in both English and Spanish, detailing Wichita’s Mexican heritage dating back to the 1870s.
Nine panels explain the city’s early meat-packing industry, civic engagement, activism, religion and sports.
“We are proud of where we came from here in the North End,” said Anita Mendoza, president of the North End Wichita Historical Society. “And anyone from the North End, I think, would say the same thing.”
The society is composed of three volunteers who hope to preserve the neighborhood’s history for generations to come.
Mendoza said the nine panels on the Woodland Park Historical Walk are just a small portion of what could have been included.
The idea for the display came from the society’s vice president, Kansas State Rep. Angela Martinez. Both women grew up in the area, and Martinez still lives just minutes from the park. She got the idea from seeing historical displays in predominantly black neighborhoods.
“I just wanted the history to be preserved and the stories to be told because of the sacrifices and the work that was done that paved a path for us today,” Martinez said.
The panels feature photos, newspaper clippings and QR codes that link to the society’s web page, where more information can be found.
Many of the people, events and companies highlighted are gone, but some remain.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help is featured and still functions as a Catholic church nearby. The annual men’s fastpitch softball tournament was held for the 78th time this year, and Villa Boxing Club is still up and running decades after it began.
Jacob Villa, owner of Villa Boxing Club, said it was once the North End Athletics Club owned by his great-grandfather, Marshall Villa.
At one point, the club was in the basement of the old Sedgwick County Courthouse. Inmates from the nearby jail used to be brought in to spar with young athletes.
Villa said his late father and grandfather would probably would be amazed by the Woodland Park display.
“They’d probably look and laugh because of what has started, and what it was, and what it’s become,” Villa said. “It’s very significant.”
The boxing club is now in Planeview, where Villa continues his family tradition of coaching young athletes.
Mendoza and Martinez said the Woodland Park walk is only the beginning for them.
Plans are in the works to try and create a cultural museum in the neighborhood that will feature more historical information and artifacts for people to enjoy.
More panels might be added to the walk and a community celebration held to connect old and new generations.
“The older generation is passing away, and our younger generation needs to know our history,” Mendoza said. “I think the community just needs to know we’ve been here a long time. We’ve been in this community. We’ve been in this state. We’ve been in this country a very long time. And just giving an understanding of who we are as a community.”
Jennifer Anima is a general news reporter at KMUW. She can be reached at anima@kmuw.org.
