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Neighbors press Neosho leaders to move proposed aquatic center access off Waldo Hatler
Summary
Residents living near the proposed golf-course aquatic center told the Neosho City Council that a new entrance on Waldo Hatler would worsen traffic, safety and quality-of-life problems; city consultants said the aquatic footprint would be about 3.5 acres and that traffic and engineering studies are next steps.
Neighbors who said they live directly across from the proposed entrance for a planned aquatic center told the Neosho City Council on Monday that the project’s current access plan would harm safety and quality of life.
"We already have a struggle to get out of our driveways in the morning," said Randy Winchester during the public-comment period, arguing that Waldo Hatler is too narrow and already carries heavy school and commuter traffic. Winchester urged the council to consider relocating the entrance to U.S. Highway 60 where traffic is directed and sidewalks are more available.
Julie Hedrick, who said she and her daughter own property on Waldo Hatler, asked when the city’s outreach survey was conducted and what percentage of the neighborhood responded. "We just didn't hear anything about it until we heard it was coming for a vote," she said, adding that neighbors were not aware and wanted more information before plans are finalized.
Marlene Shaner, who lives two doors from the clubhouse, told council members that a water park would remove walking trails and change a largely natural area into asphalt and built structures. "All that beauty is gone," she said, adding concerns about noise, light pollution and perceived increases in crime.
The residents’ comments followed a presentation by Water's Edge, the consultant team advising the city on a conceptual plan for the site. Kyle of Water's Edge said the concept would use roughly 3.5 acres of the larger city-owned golf-course property for the aquatic center, parking, an inclusive playground and up to nine pickleball courts, while leaving the bulk of the course in its natural state.
Kyle also summarized public engagement: "1,386 people took the survey, 93% of them finished the survey and so roughly that's 11% of the population," he said, describing the firm’s confidence in the results and noting that final design decisions (pool size, slides, depth) and engineering studies — traffic, stormwater and access optimization — remain to be completed.
Council members acknowledged residents’ concerns and said traffic and security will be part of the next project phase. The city will continue public outreach and engineering analysis before final designs are set; no final site approval or construction contract was authorized at the meeting.
