As his final month on the Wichita City Council unfolded, District 1 Councilmember Brandon Johnson found himself closing out his tenure much the way he spent the last eight years — managing complex issues, balancing community expectations, and navigating decisions that will shape the city long after he leaves office in January.
In his final weeks, Johnson cast some of his last votes, including advancing a proposed 1-cent city sales tax to go before Wichita voters and approving funding for improvements to A. Price Woodard Park, named in honor of Wichita’s first Black mayor. But those debates represent only a small part of a broader legacy Johnson built over two four-year terms representing one of Wichita’s most historically significant and diverse districts.
District 1 has long been represented by influential Black leaders, including LaVonta Williams, Rip Gooch, George Rogers and Carl Brewer, who shaped the city during periods of change. Johnson sees his service as part of that continuum.
“I viewed my opportunity to serve on Council as a way to make change in two ways,” Johnson said, describing his work in terms of tangible projects and systemic reforms.
A Defining Achievement: McAdams Park and the Brewer Community Center
When asked to reflect on his proudest accomplishment, Johnson consistently returns to McAdams Park and the Carl G. Brewer Community Center — projects that together reshaped a cornerstone of District 1.
Johnson first ran for office amid controversy over the possible closure of McAdams Pool. At the time, the plan was to eliminate the pool and replace it with a splash pad. Johnson campaigned on preserving and improving the facility — and delivered.
Instead of a splash pad or simply maintaining an aging pool, the city invested in a modern, state-of-the-art aquatic facility. That decision became the catalyst for a broader transformation of McAdams Park into a destination park serving the entire city.
Under Johnson’s leadership, the park saw:
- Barry Sanders Football Field improvements
- Goose Doughty Tennis Court upgrades
- Rob Thurman Baseball Field improvements
- New baseball fields
- The renovation and expansion of the Carl G. Brewer Community Center
The center’s opening this month — just weeks before Johnson leaves office — stands as a capstone achievement. As part of the project’s planning, the city reached an agreement with FEMA to remove the 15th Street bridge and its supporting pillars along the canal route. That agreement removed the new center, McAdams Park and nearly 400 nearby homes from the floodplain.
A new pedestrian bridge is planned at that location to restore access to the park along 15th Street.
Parks, Arts and Neighborhood Investment
Beyond McAdams, Johnson was a consistent advocate for parks and arts investment across District 1.
Those efforts included improvements at Fairmount and Glen Dey parks, upgrades to Edgemoor Park’s water playground and facilities, and renovations to MacDonald Golf Course. One disappointment, Johnson acknowledges, was not being able to complete planned youth football fields at Glen Dey Park — a project he hopes his successor will continue.
Johnson also supported Wichita’s 2% for the Arts ordinance, which requires 2% of public construction budgets to be spent on public art. The policy created meaningful opportunities for local and minority artists to receive paid commissions and led to greater representation and visible cultural investment, including artwork featured throughout the new Brewer Community Center.
Roads, Libraries and Infrastructure
Johnson’s tenure also coincided with significant infrastructure investment.
He supported the creation of the Concrete Street Repair Fund, helped increase street maintenance funding by $10 million annually, and backed major road projects in District 1, including improvements to 17th Street from Broadway to Hillside, resurfacing of Grove Street, and the paving of several dirt roads.
Library improvements were another priority, including the renovation and expansion of the Maya Angelou and Rockwell branch libraries and the creation of the Dr. Ronald W. Waters Branch Library.
Leadership Style: Quiet, Deliberate, and Guarded
Johnson describes his leadership style as intentionally cautious — a mindset shaped by years of watching projects stall or collapse under public expectations.
His approach, he said, was to keep plans close until success was certain.
“I’d rather under-promise and over-deliver,” he explained, noting that premature announcements can derail negotiations, funding or partnerships.
That style sometimes drew criticism from residents who wanted more transparency earlier in the process. Johnson acknowledges that tension but believes the results justify the approach.
What Didn’t Get Done
Johnson is candid about unfinished work. Beyond Glen Dey Park’s youth football fields, he hoped to do more in housing during his tenure. In 2024, he helped secure passage of a landlord retaliation ordinance allowing the city to fine landlords who punish tenants for reporting unsafe conditions.
Still, Johnson said he was disappointed he was unable to get a broader package of reforms — including more punitive measures targeting chronic problem landlords — across the finish line before leaving office.
On Johnson’s Legacy
Incoming District 1 Councilmember Joseph Shepard, who will replace Johnson in January, credits Johnson with laying groundwork that future leaders can build upon.
Shepard said Johnson’s focus on parks, infrastructure and long-term investments strengthened the district and created momentum that should continue, noting that many of Johnson’s projects will shape District 1 for decades.
Former District 1 Councilmember LaVonta Williams said she watched Johnson grow into the role and develop into an effective leader.
What’s Next
When asked what comes next, Johnson didn’t offer specifics — but he was clear about two things: earning “real money” after years of public service and continuing to serve in ways that create impact.
Whether that service comes through business, advocacy or another public-facing role remains to be seen.
Williams, who remains active in the community, said she expects the same continued engagement from Johnson.
“Once we leave those offices, there’s still so much to do, and I know we will see Brandon out there in the community working for us for years to come,” she said.
Closing
As Johnson prepares to step away from elected office, his imprint on District 1 is visible in parks, roads, libraries, public art and neighborhood infrastructure. His legacy is not defined by a single vote or policy debate, but by a steady accumulation of changes — some highly visible, others quietly structural — that reshaped the district he represented.
For District 1, the next chapter begins in January. But the foundation Johnson leaves behind will influence what comes next.