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Commissioners postpone $258,720 parks master plan after cost questions
Summary
Shawnee County commissioners set aside a $258,720 contract with Landworks Studio LLC for a parks master plan after members asked for more detail on scope, cost breakdown and fund sources; Parks director said the plan is needed to maintain accreditation.
Shawnee County commissioners voted on Sept. 29 to postpone consideration of a $258,720 Department-wide parks master plan contract with Landworks Studio LLC, asking staff to arrange a follow-up presentation that explains the firm’s scope and the project budget.
Tim Lorette, director of the Shawnee County Parks and Recreation Department, told the commission the department’s previous master plan expired in 2024 and that the proposed update would cover Gage Park, Family Park and other county facilities. He said Landworks’ proposal emphasizes circulation, parking and the relationship between Gage Park, the zoo and the Discovery Center, and includes community engagement and planning deliverables.
Lorette said the total project cost is $258,720 and that funding would come from a mix of sources: a portion from the Parks for All Foundation, contributions from the Gates Park Improvement Authority, Gates Park–specific sales tax funds, and $64,680 from the parks building maintenance fund. He also said the plan supports the department’s CAPRA accreditation requirements.
Commissioners expressed concerns about the price and wanted more detail. Commissioner Bill Rippon and Commissioner Kevin Cook questioned the single largest line item identified as "discovery" (about $134,000 in the proposal) and asked for a clearer explanation of what that phase would include and why outside consultants were necessary rather than in-house work.
Commissioner Aaron Mays said he personally dislikes expensive consultant-led plans but acknowledged the department’s need to meet CAPRA accreditation standards. Lorette told commissioners most respondents to the RFQ proposed fees in the same price range and that the department believes the selected firm was the best fit.
Commissioner Cook moved to defer the matter for a more detailed presentation by Landworks Studio; Commissioner Mays seconded. The motion passed, 3-0.
The commission and Lorette also discussed the Parks for All Foundation’s financial role; Lorette said the foundation has engaged an accounting firm to audit its last 16 months of operations and that foundation figures could be presented at a future work session. Commissioners asked that any follow-up include a clearer breakdown of which fund pays each line item and confirmation of the foundation’s available funds.
The commission did not take further action on the master plan at the meeting and asked staff to schedule a work session with the consultant and to provide the requested financial detail.
