Naftzger park sits directly between the north side of Intrust Bank Arena and Old Town, and as the NCAA tournament looms in 2018, the city is considering a $3 million renovation.

"I think that this will absolutely be, with the NCAA tournament coming, this is going to be the apron to old town. This will take everyone straight to the arena into Old Town," explained City Councilman Jeff Blubaugh.

A proposed renovation of Naftzger Park focuses on providing a modern outdoor venue.

"Naftzger Park is a great park, but you look at it, and it's kind of overgrown," said Blubaugh. "It's something I think that can serve a little bit better use, and a better entry way in and out of the Old Town arena and Old Town area.

There is a plan in place to develop the old Spaghetti Works building, and the surrounding area into apartments, as well as office and retail space. The plan is to compliment the park renovation.

"The developers are telling us there is a lot of demand in that area. That's absolutely why they are looking at it," says Blubaugh.

Tomorrow the city council will discuss the plan, proposed to be funded by Tax Increment Funding. A significant portion of that would be generated from the proposed businesses around the park. Blubaugh says the money would not come from an increase to an individual's taxes.

A date for a public hearing will be set tomorrow.

"Attend one of the public meetings that we are going to have. We are going out there and asking the public for their feedback," Blubaugh said.

There will be times for any concerns to be reaised before a vote is taken down the road.

"The only real concern I have is that we do have so many parks right now, that we struggle to take care of. Ensuring we have the money, even though it’s an existing park, that we have the money for the maintenance of the park."

Some also worry about what will happen to a number of homeless people who currently stay in Naftzger Park, including Steve Gilkey, a homeless man we spoke with about the renovation.

"It’s going to change a lot of lives once they renovate the park," Gilkey explained. "Once they start cutting the trees down and make it ‘no trespassing’."

Gilkey is concerned the renovation would eventually force he and his friends out of the area completely.

"We have to find somewhere else to survive. Sleep up under the bridge or the highway. I’ve done it before. It isn’t the first time."

But Blubaugh says he thinks Wichita does a great job of helping the homeless population, and the city will continue to provide help to anyone who needs it.

"I think our city has worked very diligently with the homeless," Blubaugh explained. "We have our own homeless outreach team. We have officers out there on the streets every day to work with those individuals. To help them find shelter.