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Council endorses Unlimited Play approach for Village Green Phase 2, delays pickleball bidding to 2026 and restores Sculpture on the Move
Summary
The planning and parks committee and council endorsed an "en masse" contract approach with Unlimited Play for Village Green Phase 2, approved a fundraising brochure and subcontractor, delayed bidding for pickleball courts to 2026, and approved reintroducing the Sculpture on the Move program.
At the June 9 meeting the Planning & Parks Committee and the City Council moved forward on multiple park projects. The council endorsed using Unlimited Play as a single point contractor for design, engineering and construction management of Village Green Phase 2 and authorized the next phase of community fundraising. The council also delayed bidding for proposed hard‑court pickleball facilities until 2026 and approved returning the Sculpture on the Move art‑on‑loan program to City Hall.
Director Tim Vunich described Unlimited Play’s en‑masse contracting approach as a way to streamline procurement: the company proposes to serve as the primary contract holder and to coordinate engineering, construction and fundraising. Committee members noted Unlimited Play has experience with inclusive playgrounds and that the firm provided a draft brochure to support community fundraising. Vunich said the recommended subcontractor for the actual site construction is Ideal Landscape Group, which has previously built parks in the region. Council members asked about donor recognition and signage; staff said the city would retain final approval of sponsorship and naming treatments.
On pickleball courts, the committee recommended — and the council approved — postponing the formal bid to 2026 to ensure the capital budget will support construction after the fall budgeting process. The committee cited recent Missouri Department of Transportation work and related county coordination as reasons to delay.
The council also endorsed reintroducing Sculpture on the Move, a rotating public‑art loan program that displayed pieces at City Hall in prior years. The committee recommended starting with one sculpture in 2025 if possible, and at least one in 2026, with an estimated program fee of about $1,000 per year for the city to host each sculpture. Council members said they want to ensure public‑safety, base requirements, and fundraising and installation plans are documented.
All three items (Unlimited Play approach and fundraising, pickleball bidding delay, and Sculpture on the Move) were approved by voice vote.
