Garden City commissioners recommend decommissioning underused Kiwanis Park racquetball court, endorse Kiwanis-led improvements

Garden City’s Parks & Recreation Commission voted to recommend that the City Council decommission the aging racquetball structure at Kiwanis Park and approved a partnership with the Kiwanis Club to fund a staged program of park upgrades.

Parks staff presented an engineering review that documented slipping concrete footings, graffiti and limited use of the structure. “There is some deterioration of the court right now,” parks staff said, noting the city has not made recent investments to keep the facility safe or usable. John Fleming of the Kiwanis Club told the commission the club does not want to retain the structure and supports removing it to improve sightlines and create parking: “No, actually, we think it’s instrumental to upgrading the park itself … it blocks view of what’s going on behind the wall.”

Commissioners debated whether the city should budget for long‑term repairs or decommission the structure and repurpose the site. One commissioner summarized the financial tradeoffs, saying decommissioning would avoid continuing maintenance costs and free limited park funds for other projects. A motion that the commission recommend decommissioning the racquetball courts to city council passed by voice vote.

Separately, the commission reviewed a Kiwanis fundraising plan for Quantas Park improvements — a staged program that includes new benches and signage already installed, accessible playground surfacing, a small walking path, repositioning a basketball court, expanded parking and a future shelter with restrooms. Parks staff said the items presented are currently funded by Kiwanis fundraising, though the city has listed some work in its capital improvement plan as potential future city spending. “This budget is currently all coming from Kiwanis,” parks staff said during the presentation.

The commission voted to endorse continuing the Kiwanis‑City partnership and the conceptual plans as presented. Parks staff cautioned that certain demolition tasks may require outside contractors and additional cost estimates; the engineering report did not include a definitive demolition price because some work could be handled by city crews and some outsourced work would need competitive quotes.

The commission advised staff to confirm demolition logistics, obtain contractor estimates where needed, and bring any budget requests to the council for consideration.