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Parks and Recreation staff report heavy spring programming, new amenities and repairs
Summary
Staff reported high participation at the field house and turf facilities, new adaptive programming, playground and court repairs, new columbariums sold, an observation beehive at Lakewood Discovery Center, restroom and shelter repairs, Mattson Field seeding, and upcoming light commissioning at Pestinger Family Stadium.
Parks and Recreation staff reported a busy March and early-April schedule, including high facility use, repairs and maintenance, and several capital projects in progress.
Staff told the advisory board that indoor programs at the Salina Field House carried into March because of winter weather delays; adult volleyball registration totaled 31 teams this spring, youth leagues had high participation, and the facility hosted eight events with about 78 teams in March. Staff said the Salina Liberty and other teams regularly use turf fields for practice and that structured reservations for turf slots were introduced to manage demand. Staff also described an adaptive program called "Can Play," a nationally accredited therapeutic-recreation program running weekly sessions including baseball, softball and soccer cycles.
Maintenance and repairs highlighted by staff included replacement of a damaged swing unit at Jerry Ivy Park; powder-coating and reinstallation of basketball standards at Sunset, Centennial and Pacific parks after court resurfacing; removal of a vandal-prone retaining wall at Shilling Park; pre-emergent spraying, fertilizing and mulching; and new columbarium units at the cemetery (staff reported six sales since installation). Staff said the new columbariums are the fourth set installed at the cemetery site.
The Lakewood Discovery Center has an enclosed observation beehive under construction; staff said the exhibit is fully enclosed and will allow bees to enter and exit a contained hive once installed. No firm opening date was given. Staff also described restroom work at Oakdale Park: interior epoxy coatings are being applied with the goal of opening bathrooms by Riverfest; porta-potties will be on site temporarily during interior work.
Capital projects and near-term construction updates included Mattson Field (regrading and seeding with fescue and bent-grass infields; staff said the field will need two seasons to mature with a likely play opening in spring 2026), completion of shelter footing and concrete work at Bill Burke Park shelters, and ongoing work at the Parker Park dog park (site excavation, upcoming concrete pours, shelters and solar lights on a multi-week schedule). Staff said Pestinger Family Stadium's city work is nearly complete; the final remaining step is night commissioning and owner training for the newly replaced light systems, scheduled for the 23rd of the month.
Staff also reported licensing history: Kansas Wesleyan received a license years ago to use south-of-Sunset Park fields for track-and-field practice; this meeting marks the first year a K-Wesleyan event will use those fields for a competition. Staff said they are working on site adjustments and contractor quotes for proposed additional shade and a possible fourth dog-park pod at Barclay Park; the pod would require removing additional trees and relocating some disc-golf elements.
Ending: Staff asked advisory-board members to raise any questions about the activity report; no formal board votes were taken on these items during the meeting.
