The brand new city pool opened in 2017 and is specially designed for families and children of all ages.  The leisure pool has a zero depth entry and an interactive water play structure.  Away from the younger children, the older kids can enjoy a large water slide, two diving boards, and a complete water basketball court.  When it’s time for a break, enjoy a refreshment from the snack bar.

Open Memorial Day – Labor Day
0000-0000 Monday -Thursday
0000-0000 Friday – Saturday

Admission is free for everyone

888-888-8888
123 Washington St.

The St. Francis Public Library offers a variety of services, including access to free Wifi, Patron computer terminals, Meeting Rooms with projector and conference phones, as well as copy and fax services.

Let your child’s imagination run wild with our extensive children’s library, and summer reading programs.

10:30 – 5:30 Monday – Friday
No Weekends
No Evenings

785-332-3292
121 N. Scott St.

http://stfrancis.nwkls.org

In 1934, during the dust storms and crop failures on the Plains, one man had a vision of an oasis with shaded green lawns and colorful gardens. Working with the city council, Howard T. Sawhill and his wife Vivian set forth a plan to build a park on an empty lot on Main Street in downtown St. Francis. With WPA workmen and federal funds, the park became a reality.

Today, Sawhill Park is the setting for many special events in St. Francis, including the annual Cheyenne County Car Show, the Relay for Life and the Farmers Market.  Some years the Alumni Reunion holds events in the park; in the summer, families picnic and children enjoy the playground equipment. Outdoor productions are performed in the amphitheater with an attentive audience in the circle of auditorium seats

At the intersection of Washington and Denison St.

For more information:
785.332.3142
clerk@cityofstfrancis.net

Outdoor Activites

In 1934, during the dust storms and crop failures on the Plains, one man had a vision of an oasis with shaded green lawns and colorful gardens. Working with the city council, Howard T. Sawhill and his wife Vivian set forth a plan to build a park on an empty lot on Main Street in downtown St. Francis. With WPA workmen and federal funds, the park became a reality.

Today, Sawhill Park is the setting for many special events in St. Francis, including the annual Cheyenne County Car Show, the Relay for Life and the Farmers Market.  Some years the Alumni Reunion holds events in the park; in the summer, families picnic and children enjoy the playground equipment. Outdoor productions are performed in the amphitheater with an attentive audience in the circle of auditorium seats

At the intersection of Washington and Denison St.

For more information:
785.332.3142
clerk@cityofstfrancis.net

The Arikaree Breaks are located on the extreme northern edge of Cheyenne County. This area of extremely rough terrain, with its deep ravines and gullies is a marked contrast to the plains generally associated with the area. The breaks were formed by wind deposited sand, silt, and clay particles, called loess. After deposition, the loess has undergone spectacular processes of head cutting and sidewall cutting the advancing tributaries of the Arikaree River and the South Fork of the Republican River.

There is uncertainty about the age of the loess, possibly Holocene Age, probably less than 9,000 years before present. Also, there is controversy about the source of the loess, possibly the Nebraska Sand Hills and/or the Platte River system. The Loess Breaks formed from the complex interactions involving stratigraphy, sedimentologic, erosional processes, and climatic systems.

The breaks are 36 miles long and approximately two to three miles wide. They extend into Rawlins County and several miles into Colorado. There are few trees in the rough terrain. However, the pasture land has many yucca or soap weed as they are called by the natives. There are also two species of sage that grow in the breaks that grow no other place in Kansas and 16 native plants that are listed as “rare” in Kansas. The hills are covered with native grasses, excellent for cattle and wildlife. Water is hard to find in some areas, so ranchers have built dams to water their livestock. Wells are often drilled many miles away from the livestock and then piped into the area. There are over 20 miles of plastic pipe lines in use.

There are several public roads through the breaks, giving visitors some outstanding viewing sites of this rugged wonder. Visitors are asked to please respect the land owners by remaining on the public roads.

Geologically, the breaks are an exposure of three distinct geologic formations. The upper most strata is a thick mantle of tan to light brown loess, with a thickness approaching 100 feet in places. The second layer is composed of a thin remnant of the ash-grey Ogallala formation composed of sands and gravels partially cemented with calcium carbonate. The Ogallala Formation is Pliocene in age and is the main source of ground water in Cheyenne County. The lower formation is stratified, brown to yellowish-brown Pierre Shale of the late Cretaceous age. The thinly bedded Pierre Shale contains selenite crystals, bentonite seams and chalky layers.

In 1934, during the dust storms and crop failures on the Plains, one man had a vision of an oasis with shaded green lawns and colorful gardens. Working with the city council, Howard T. Sawhill and his wife Vivian set forth a plan to build a park on an empty lot on Main Street in downtown St. Francis. With WPA workmen and federal funds, the park became a reality.

Today, Sawhill Park is the setting for many special events in St. Francis, including the annual Cheyenne County Car Show, the Relay for Life and the Farmers Market.  Some years the Alumni Reunion holds events in the park; in the summer, families picnic and children enjoy the playground equipment. Outdoor productions are performed in the amphitheater with an attentive audience in the circle of auditorium seats