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Parks director Paul Bloomberg reports rising use, $1M golf revenue and new projects for Joplin City
Summary
Paul Bloomberg told the council July 7 that parks and recreation saw nearly 50,000–50,000+ pool visits, golf rounds at Schieferdecker tracked above 33,000 in 2024, golf revenue topped $1 million, and city projects including Dora, Ewert Splash Park and an E Wirt construction bid are moving forward.
Paul Bloomberg, representing the Parks and Recreation Department, told the Joplin City Council on July 7 that parks usage and program demand have rebounded since the pandemic and that several capital projects are advancing toward procurement or construction.
Bloomberg said the department employs more than 200 seasonal workers in addition to its full‑time staff and highlighted recent metrics: pools drew about 50,000 visitors last year, roughly 175 children participated in swim lessons, and the city’s largest golf course, Schieferdecker, recorded about 33,000–34,000 rounds in 2024. He said golf revenue last year exceeded $1,000,000, a first for the course.
Why it matters: Bloomberg said high usage and more events increase maintenance needs and influence near‑term capital and operating budgets. He outlined current projects and procurement timelines that would trigger council review and approval.
Key projects Bloomberg flagged include the Dora Bike Park (on schedule for spring opening), the Tin Cup inspection work, and the Ewert Splash Park and Ice Ribbon. He said bids for the E Wirt construction were opened June 26 and that BrandCo is preparing a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) for council consideration; Bloomberg said he expects the project to come to the council for a first reading when pricing is finalized.
Bloomberg also described a new park ranger division that he said has reduced security incident reports by about 22% in recent years and is helping with ordinance enforcement and public engagement. In response to Council member Jackson’s question about older Little League fields, Bloomberg said he had spoken with Will Lynch, Little League president, and that demolition of a specific site was scheduled for July 21; the site will be returned to green space until a flood‑resilient redevelopment plan is developed.
Council thanked Bloomberg for the comprehensive update; the informal session then concluded briefly before resuming.
