Salina parks board reviews June activity reports, playground bids and park projects

The City of Salina Parks and Recreation Advisory Board on an unspecified July meeting date reviewed June activity reports and several ongoing park projects, hearing that summer programs and tournaments have driven heavy use and that multiple capital projects are in procurement or under construction.

Board members heard staff reports that Riverfest and other special events drove significant park activity in June and that weather-related delays affected the opening and revenue at Kenwick Cove. Jeff, a staff member, summarized programming and maintenance highlights and said several indoor and outdoor summer camps and tournaments brought high participation and out-of-town teams to Salina.

The reports given by parks staff included these specifics: 85 animal adoptions and 48 returns-to-owner at the animal shelter for the month; two sensory-swim sessions planned this summer for participants with sensory needs; an 80-child-per-day field-house summer camp; 91 teams participating in summer basketball and volleyball leagues; 140 tournament teams using outdoor facilities in June; and multiple youth camps, including a 33-player tennis camp and a 65-player boys summer camp. Staff noted windstorms in June affected day-pass sales and other daily-revenue streams.

Staff also reviewed ongoing and planned capital work. Restrooms at Oakdale Park were renovated and opened ahead of Riverfest with new fixtures, epoxy floors and partitions; Lakewood South restrooms are watertight and expected to receive electric service and open later (staff cited August as an expected month). Facilities maintenance, led by Troy Reinert, removed an old county generator from city property, inspected elevators, and painted downtown trash-corral panels used during Riverfest.

Playground replacement bids opened July 10 for a small Kenwood Park playground and a larger Bill Burke Park playground of roughly 5,000 square feet. Brett Lamer, deputy parks director, is reviewing bids with staff and expects a recommendation to the City Commission on July 24. Staff said the city plans to buy and install the Bill Burke playground via contractor and to purchase-and-install the smaller Kenwood playground using in-house crews and facilities support.

Sand-volleyball construction at a designated site has begun; staff estimated the court work could take about two to four weeks depending on delivery of sand. The new sand courts will include improved drainage, a permeable layer that prevents sand migration, tournament-quality posts and nets, and more overrun area than the previous court. Staff outlined potential future amenities such as lighting, shade structures and bleachers but said funding for those items is not yet identified.

Parker Park’s dog-park project is awaiting arrival of shade-structure components, with shipments expected around July 23; contractor assembly and fencing completion will follow, after which benches, trash and water fixtures and dog-waste dispensers will be installed. A change order was issued to the contractor working in Parker Park to add concrete and shade structures for Barclay Park; those metal pavilions were ordered and staff said the lead time is about 16 weeks.

Staff also said the city pushed back the concrete bid opening (sidewalk replacements, parking-lot concrete conversions and ADA improvements) by one week to July 24 to obtain more bidders. Jerry Ivy Memorial Park splash-pad and related improvements have a bid-opening scheduled for July 31.

Board members asked about parking and crowding at Bill Burke Park and were told staff and the city’s engineering group have an engineering plan under development for a novel parking solution that would improve ADA access, add drop-off lanes and reduce bottlenecks. Staff said the design is expected to be costly; detailed design and cost estimates await engineering capacity currently focused on the city’s river-renewal plan.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of agenda: motion to approve the agenda was made and seconded and passed by voice vote (mover: Kevin Janushek; seconder: Ashley Campbell; outcome: approved).

- Approval of minutes from the prior meeting: motion and second were made and passed by voice vote (mover: Kevin Janushek; seconder: not specified in the transcript; outcome: approved).

- Adjournment: motion to adjourn was made and seconded and passed by voice vote (mover: Kevin Janushek; seconder: Ashley Campbell; outcome: approved).

Why this matters

Board members and staff said heavy tournament and camp use affects maintenance needs, ADA compliance planning, parking and revenue projections. Playground, restroom and ADA upgrades are intended to bring city facilities up to current accessibility standards and respond to heavy summer usage.

The meeting concluded with staff noting next steps on bids and construction timelines and with projects moving forward as contractors and supplies become available.