Committee outlines Springs Park reopening plans, construction updates and funding for city parks

White Sulphur Springs — Parks Advisory Committee members reported progress on several park projects and outlined plans for the Springs Park grand reopening during the May 20 meeting.

Committee members Jordan Kibbee and Emma Hensley said they plan to schedule the Springs Park playground grand reopening to coincide with the Farmers Market on June 26, 2025; Hensley will coordinate with Alaina Morrison and Maddie Adams. Liaison Pattie Berg suggested inviting a T‑Mobile representative to participate in the reopening activities.

Berg provided a detailed project update: installers placed engineered wood fiber (EWF) across most of the Springs Park playground beginning May 9, 2025, but paused May 12 and are expected to return after Memorial Day to complete work; the crew estimated two additional semis of EWF will be needed. The committee discussed drainage work (a French drain around the north end of the footprint), repair of a crumbled parking-lot retaining wall by the City, and an accessible path from the shelter to the play area that is currently under contract but whose final location depends on border placement. Electrical work at the Rotary Shelter is planned, with Rotary funding most costs and the City contributing $500.

On funding, Berg said HB355 funds remain under contract and pending, and that the T‑Mobile grant work is progressing and should conclude the first week of June. She stated the Springs Park renovation is expected to come in at or under a $93,990.96 budget. Berg also said she applied for a $250 Thrivent Community Action grant to help cover celebration costs and noted an end-of-project celebration budget of $500.

Other project notes included Bair Park work to relocate the play footprint to address drainage and to install new equipment; the Radar Park vault toilet, funded by HB355, is scheduled for installation late this summer; and Joanna's Park has $700 budgeted for rails. Berg said the Mayor asked whether the committee had received a report from skateboard park users (they had been invited but did not brief the committee) and raised whether the committee needs a formal process to revoke long-held reservations of park space. Berg reported the Leadership Class graduated without completing a planned park clean-up and suggested recruiting a youth group for Spike’s clean-up. She said about $48,000 will be available in the parks CIP fund for new projects and asked Chair Blair to add planning and budgeting to the June agenda.

Why it matters: The updates outline near-term construction timelines, remaining costs and potential funding sources that will determine how quickly playground and amenity improvements become available to residents.

No public comment was recorded at the May 20 meeting.