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Florissant Mayor and parks director outline parks upgrades, esports lab and plans for a recreational turf field
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Summary
Mayor Tim Lowry and Parks & Recreation Director Jimmy Karinchak detailed multiple capital upgrades — new irrigation, courts, pool repairs, accessibility work and a proposed turf field at Coke Park — plus community programs like a stop-and-shop and an esports lab at the Eagan Center.
Mayor Tim Lowry spoke with Jimmy Karinchak, director of parks and recreation for the City of Florissant, about a slate of park improvements and new programs the department expects this year.
Karinchak said crews are converting two fields at Coke Park into “premier soccer fields” with irrigation so the city can host regional events and reduce weather-related wear. “We’re turning 2 fields in there to, kind of premier soccer fields that will have irrigation,” he said. The department is also installing new basketball courts at Moampi Park and resurfacing Bangor Park’s pickleball courts, and plans to add tennis and pickleball courts at Dunneget Park.
At the Eagan Center, Karinchak said the pool will get tile replacement, a new quartz decking system and a renovated men’s locker room. He also described facility-wide maintenance and upgrades at Saint Ferdinand Park, including a new maintenance shed and an amphitheater for the summer concert series. “The new maintenance shed there gives our staff an opportunity to house more equipment, make sure they’re more organized to maintain the ball fields, all the parks,” Karinchak said.
The department completed an ADA transition assessment by an external group, Karinchak said, and is moving to address barriers the audit identified so park facilities are more inclusive. He characterized deferred maintenance as a top priority and listed smaller improvements — replacing picnic tables and swapping old blue trash cans for new black ones — as part of that effort.
Karinchak described recreational programming at the Eagan Center, including Fusion 314, an esports lab with about 20 high-speed computers that hosts weekly tournaments, and a stop-and-shop program running roughly May through October from 4 to 8 p.m. at the JFK Center where residents can pick up supplies.
Looking ahead, Karinchak said the department is pursuing funding for a turf field at Coke Park to allow more frequent use for football and soccer and reduce weather-related damage to grass fields. “So that way we can host more, you know, football, soccer programs up there… So having a turf field will give those kids an advantage in North County,” he said, noting the city’s turf would be the first recreational turf field in North County available for public rental.
Mayor Lowry closed by thanking Karinchak and parks staff for the work on projects and programs.
The department did not provide specific project budgets, grant sources or firm construction timelines during the interview; Karinchak said the turf field was a funding goal and that procurement and scheduling remain to be finalized.
