Kansas University officials are keeping an eye on the former Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant near De Soto, hoping they’ll participate in a research park planned for the site.

“If we can do something that helps the regional economy, and promote research alliances, then that’s good,” Jim Roberts, KU’s vice provost for research, said recently.

But there’s little progress so far.

“There’s really not much at this point,” Roberts said. “Just sort of watching to see the developments there.”

A research park is expected to be an essential part of the redevelopment of the defunct ammunition plant.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius last spring wrote to the Johnson County Commission, saying she wouldn’t approve any redevelopment of the plant that doesn’t include life sciences research.

“A substantial portion of the Sunflower site should be devoted to a life sciences research park,” Sebelius said in the letter. “This issue will be central to my approval” of the project.

The letter came the same week commissioners agreed to allow Kessinger/Hunter, a Kansas City firm, to purchase and develop the 9,065-acre tract.

Don Jarrett, Johnson County’s chief counsel, said commissioners agreed with Sebelius.

“Our current plan has a designated area for a research park already,” Jarrett said. “It’s always been part of the plan, so we have no difficulty with that.”

He said Kessinger/Hunter’s initial proposals for the site “would provide a research park, to be developed in cooperation with a Kansas Board of Regents institution.”

In her letter, Sebelius wrote: “A research park, as part of a larger development, would be an engine of growth for the region for decades to come. It would attract creative, talented people to our region and create jobs not only for today’s workers, but also for our children and grandchildren.”