Pony Express Park

Pony Express Park is the first phase of a larger plan to redevelop an abandoned railway corridor in downtown Marysville, Kansas. In designing the landscape, Schwab-Eaton’s landscape architects drew inspiration from the bronze sculpture of a pony express rider that is the centerpiece of the park. The designers primarily selected native prairie plants that the original riders may have galloped through on the ride west. A variety of perennials and native grasses were planted on the large earth mound in rings around the statue and in a nearby limestone planter bed. A few shrubs and trees were planted to provide year-round color and interest. Most of the plants selected are highly drought tolerant, and require only limited irrigation. To aid in establishment of the plants and to provide water during exceptionally dry times, the entire landscape was designed with an automated water-efficient irrigation system. Drip irrigation was used in the landscape beds and water-efficient spray nozzles in turf areas. A rain sensor overrides the watering programs during rainy periods. The development of Pony Express Park has greatly improved the area, providing a unique place for visitors to experience a piece of Marysville history and the beginnings of a town center for the downtown area.