Residents urge Shawnee to use debt for parks, warn Rail Creek Park may stall without flexible funding

Residents attending the Shawnee City Council meeting on June 8 urged the council to reconsider a policy shift away from debt financing for capital projects, saying that pay-as-you-go approaches can prevent the city from seizing timely opportunities such as Rail Creek Park.

Randy Brily, who identified himself as an active cyclist and member of the Bicycle Advisory Committee, said he reviewed the 2026 budget and spoke with several council members before the meeting. “Debt funding is an excellent option for long-lived assets such as parks,” Brily said, adding that spreading costs across generations is fairer than placing the entire burden on current taxpayers. He asked the council and staff to work with the parks department to find “a responsible way to say yes to both projects, the visitor center and Rail Creek Park.”

Jonas, who said he is executive director of a youth cycling clinic that has used the Rail Creek Park property for more than eight years, told the council the park draws hundreds of visitors from surrounding communities and that local partners—including the Chamber of Commerce and volunteers—have invested substantial time and study into the project. “We were all pretty baffled” by recent messaging that appeared to stall the project, Jonas said, and urged the council to “carefully consider this” before concluding the project is finished.

Matt Zimmerman, a 40-year Shawnee resident, thanked the council for their service and asked officials to prioritize strategic capital investments that enhance quality of life and economic vitality. Zimmerman singled out Shawnee Town 1929 and the Rail Creek Parkway as projects that could attract visitors, donors and grant partners; he said such investments demonstrate what is possible when public investment and community support work together.

A short statement from Lawrence March said the Rail Creek Park project was not 'dead' but in a regrouping phase and invited people to contact City Manager Paul Kramer for more details.

Why it matters: Council members will soon discuss parks and capital budgets in a June 22 committee meeting; speakers warned that a formal shift away from debt financing for parks could limit the council's ability to move quickly on projects with strong community backing. The public comments put pressure on staff and elected officials to clarify financing policy and to reconcile competing priorities in the forthcoming CIP discussions.

Next steps: The council scheduled a follow-up discussion on parks and CIP items for June 22, during which the funding approach for Rail Creek Park and the visitor center will be revisited.