Young couple considering move to Wichita--advice?? (Hays, Derby: amusement park, home, job market)

[alisonelaine]

My boyfriend and I are thinking about moving to Wichita after we are done with our undergrad, but we have never been there and might not be able to visit, so we need advice!
1. We are both 22, so we want a place that has a young vibe, cheap downtown where we could live close-enough to the center not to have to take an expensive cab home every weekend night. What kinds of fun things are there to do?
2. Jobs! He works in marketing and executive business so there needs to be some good large companies in that realm... and I am going to go through an alternative certification process to become a middle/high school english language arts teacher, so there has to be a need for those teachers! Also, how is the school system?
3. We are extremely active--love running, so there needs to be lots of trails, 5ks, etc, and like biking to work and going to parks/swimming pools. We also would prefer to live really close to water. And--we need a professional baseball or basketball team that the city gets really into supporting!
4. What is the arts scene like (plays, etc)? Are there farmers markets, wineries, or health foods stores?

So pretty much, do you think that this city is a good fit for a really young, semi-conservative, artsy, active couple AND will we be able to find jobs here?
Thanks!

[averagejoe76]

There are Apts downtown close to bars,places to eat,Warren Theatre.
Some of the apts are somewhat expensive,some are small & cheap(above stores)
Downtown is the area of town where most homeless are,shelters,etc FYI
We have some decent parks(Riverside is one i like)Some bike paths along the River.
Theres Coffee shops,Old town Farmers Market,Art Museum,a few Theatres that..
Put on plays.

Im not impressed with most lakes in the Area,but El Dorado Lake is nice.
We also have Lake Cheney,Afton.
Wichita has a great County Zoo,and a smaller wildlife park in Goddard.
Theres a few health food stores,Winery near Mulvane.
We have a Baseball team(Wingnuts)and College basketball.

I couldnt tell you much about the Job market ive been with the same company..
For 8 years and im not too aware of the market.

You could do much worse than Wichita but its not a Artsy type place.
Theres plenty of clubs,places to eat,theres enough shopping.
Biking to work could be really tough to do depending on where you live/work.
I have complained about Kansas for almost as long as i have lived here but..
I have kinda grown to like Wichita.Although the lack of scenery/concerts &..
The crazy weather sometimes gets to me.

[athfo]

Originally Posted by averagejoe76

You could do much worse than Wichita but its not a Artsy type place.

actually, Wichita's art scene is killer! This will get you started:

http://www.wichitaarts.com/Exhibitions/

http://projects.kansas.com/artcrawl/

http://www.wichitaart.blogspot.com/

Originally Posted by averagejoe76

Although the lack of scenery/concerts &..
The crazy weather sometimes gets to me.

There are concerts all the time...

ICT Fest just happened, First Friday (http://www.firstfriday.org/ - broken link) is, you guessed it, every first Friday of the month, there are concerts at the Cotillion, Hartman Arena, Eagle's Lodge, The Avenue, Mead's Corner, and so on. The new Intrust Bank Arena will open in January of 2010.

Originally Posted by alisonelaine

So pretty much, do you think that this city is a good fit for a really young, semi-conservative, artsy, active couple AND will we be able to find jobs here?
Thanks!

YES

[j_k_k]

Originally Posted by alisonelaine

So pretty much, do you think that this city is a good fit for a really young, semi-conservative, artsy, active couple AND will we be able to find jobs here?

You should be fine, considering that your plans don't include opening an abortion clinic. In Wichita, it's probably more dangerous to run one of those than to work at a stop-and-rob.

[averagejoe76]

I probably wont be asked to work on the Wichita area Convention & Tourism board..
Any time soon lol that said I try to give the good & the bad.
Wichita has does have Art to check out...
I find the Concert scene lacking but i lean towards Indie Rock,etc
Many groups/artist's wont come here or come once and dont come back.
Warped Tour was here once never to return again.
Maybe that will change with the new Arena.

Wichita to me is a medium-sized city that sometimes feels like a small town..
But is trying to move foward.In my time here i have seen Downtown change..
Quite a bit with the new Museum of World Treasures,Warren,etc
More Shopping and Dining always opening up all over.

Some stuff going on downtown near the river,(Riverwalk,Gander mountain)
We have had Casino's here voted down and an amusement park open & shut down..
Within a few months.Casino's will open to the south of Wichita in the near future.

I like Wichita ok,Housing cost isnt bad,i feel safe in most of the city.
It has everything one would expect for a city of its size.

[JoCo freak]

Wichita is a nice town but may not be perfect for you, but it would work out nicely. Don't worry, I visit Wichita all the time and I think you be fine there.

[KevK]

Originally Posted by alisonelaine

My boyfriend and I are thinking about moving to Wichita after we are done with our undergrad, but we have never been there and might not be able to visit, so we need advice!
1. We are both 22, so we want a place that has a young vibe, cheap downtown where we could live close-enough to the center not to have to take an expensive cab home every weekend night. What kinds of fun things are there to do?
2. Jobs! He works in marketing and executive business so there needs to be some good large companies in that realm... and I am going to go through an alternative certification process to become a middle/high school english language arts teacher, so there has to be a need for those teachers! Also, how is the school system?
3. We are extremely active--love running, so there needs to be lots of trails, 5ks, etc, and like biking to work and going to parks/swimming pools. We also would prefer to live really close to water. And--we need a professional baseball or basketball team that the city gets really into supporting!
4. What is the arts scene like (plays, etc)? Are there farmers markets, wineries, or health foods stores?

So pretty much, do you think that this city is a good fit for a really young, semi-conservative, artsy, active couple AND will we be able to find jobs here?
Thanks!

1. If you want nightlife Wichita has it for you. Oldtown and many other places there. They party good there (usually because there is not much else to do)
2. There are few jobs there- especially right now- and the competition for those jobs is very stiff.
3. The only "water" in Wichita is that in your sink or a swimming pool. As for running, plenty of good parks there is run in. Professional sports are in KC and even there they lose all the time.
4. Arts?? What is that. Arts defined: "Something people in Wichita drive to KC to enjoy".

[badkarma6]

As a lifelong Wichitan, the best advice I could give someone wanting to move here is, don't.

Streets are in a constant state of either construction or disrepair, the city government really seems not to care about anything, except how best to line their pockets.

As to pools, took my kids to the Aley park pool last Thursday, I won't be taking them to any more city owned pools. Broken concrete, a fishy smell to the water, feces in the mens dressing area.

You will HAVE to own a car, public transpo is practically non-existent. Cabs are $2 to flag, $.25 per 1/8 mile.

Schools are OK, as long as your child gets a teacher that cares, and you're willing to stay on top of the teacher AND your own child.

If you have a problem that involves the need to call 911, keep in mind that when seconds count, help is normally 30 minutes away.

My advice, for what you're looking for, look at the KC metro area, I think you'll be much happier.

[Leu]

Heh, I agree with badkarma. That's why you have your own handgun to protect yourselves from any criminal activity that may occur. Really though, it's POLICE that have the 30 minute wait time. Apparently they prefer to sit around eating doughnuts catching speeders/writing tickets than actually doing their job.

We were robbed three times when I was a kid. The KG&E caught the guys red-handed and told the police that. What did the police do? Let them go.

I lost most of my super-nintendo games, and was forever upset. For home defense, keep a gun.

[averagejoe76]

Streets are always messed up in most American cities.
I dont know much about how clean the Public pools are but there seems..
To be a lack of them in Wichita.(Suburbs have nice pools Haysville,Derby).
The Bus isnt very good overall,My Experience with Cabs has been horrible
Have waited an hour or more for a cab or they just dont show up.
I remember giving up and walking an hour in the cold.
Sometimes i assist with medical emergencies at work and the average time..
They respond to a 911 call seems to be about 3-5 Mins.
WPD seem ok to me,I would rather deal with them then Bel Aire,Derby,Haysville PD..
Who will follow you around and have nothing to do.