This story is part of an ongoing series, Powering Change: Panasonic and De Soto. If you'd like to share your excitement or concerns about the electric vehicle battery plant, you can do so here.
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The small city of De Soto is on the brink of significant transformation as it prepares for the opening of the Panasonic EV battery plant.
As a voice for everyone, we’ve been covering the changes and speaking with residents who have mixed reactions to the growing city.
In a recent visit to the De Soto Senior Center's pickleball league, a popular community gathering spot, we heard firsthand from locals about their thoughts on De Soto’s development.
One lifelong resident, Chrissy Behee, expressed concern about the rapid growth, but she also recalled a time when the downtown area was more vibrant with shops and local businesses.
“I kind of wish we had the old uptown," Behee said. "We used to have a flower shop and our library and everything. You know, it's still up there, but I go up there and we don't have as many people."
She hopes the city’s growth will help restore some of that energy to downtown.
De Soto newcomer Yuli Conley sees the growth in a positive light.
“When the city grows, everything will be following up," Conley said.
Conley is moving to De Soto during the city’s expansion. She believes more new jobs and business prospects will come with the influx of new people, which will benefit the city.
“It’s good for young people who have finished college and are looking for career opportunities,” Conley said.
The city is also considering a new community center, with residents voicing their hopes for spaces like indoor pickleball courts and pools. This potential development is certainly something these De Soto pickleball players hope to see.
“I would really enjoy it. We need an inside pool; that's what we really need,” Behee said. “We get people in here playing and everything, and we have to stack rackets once it's about 10 o'clock in the morning. So, we need a bigger place to be playing.”
City officials plan to gather more community input and will have a clearer vision of the new center by April.
Panasonic officials have not confirmed an opening date for the plant.
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KSHB 41 reporter Olivia Acree covers portions of Johnson County, Kansas. Share your story idea with Olivia.