The Parkville Board of Aldermen held a joint meeting with the city’s parks and recreation board last week to discuss the new farmers market building to be erected at English Landing Park.
The Community Land and Recreation Board (CLARB) met with the board of aldermen Tuesday, April 30, along with representatives of BBN Architects, the designer of the new structure. The old structure was torn down after it was struck and seriously damaged in two separate truck accidents in 2022.
Architects proposed moving the structure a few feet to the north to better control the flow of traffic in the area. There would be parking along the north end of the structure and to the south the oddly-shaped parking area would be removed and replaced with green space and a sidewalk. The rearrangement of parking spaces will add seven additional spaces.
The structure itself is slightly larger and made of stone and wood, with flood-proof concrete-backed stone reaching to eight feet high on each column. The roofing will be made of douglas fir and would feature replica signage to match the former sign.
The structure is designed to possibly be enclosed with glass overhead doors in the future. Each end would be enclosed in stone and double doors installed.
Estimated costs for the structure come un around $1.7 million, with an additional approximately $150,000 to enclose the structure.
City Administrator Alexa Barton said there is a community expectation to upgrade the entire area and asked if the board has any interest in rebuilding the rest of the city parking lot to add sidewalks and green space. Due to the condition of the parking lot, it would need to be milled and filled before it was resurfaced, adding additional costs.
Mayor Dean Katerndahl said anything that would help soften the transition between downtown and the park would be welcome, dependent upon the cost involved.
The total budget for the project is $2 million. Parkville received a partnership grant from Platte County Parks and Recreation earlier this year, which will cover $1 million of the project. Insurance funds from the old structure total $350,000 with the remainder made up by parks funds.
Alderman Tina Welch pointed out that BBN’s estimates were already at $2 million without any additional projects, such as refitting the rest of the lot. Alderman Phil Wassmer said the downtown businesses have an interest in improving and adding parking to downtown, so the downtown CID could have an interest in contributing to an expanded project.
Katerndahl questioned if the decision needs to be made now to build the structure with an eye to the future for enclosure.
BBN architect said, structurally, it would be much easier – and in the long run cheaper – to build the structure to enclose it from the ground up.
The aldermen generally agreed to build the structure with the ability to enclose it in the future.
“It’s not going to hurt anything to have the structure there without having to tear everything out,” said Alderman Doug Wylie. Welch agreed.
Parkville Farmers Market Manager Joyce McFarland said she is also a part of the Kansas City Market, where the city built a year-round structure. She encouraged the board to build the farmers market to the standard allowing future enclosure. The Kansas City market was forced to retrofit its structure, which took months and additional time.
The board said the overhead doors would be a decision to be made by a future board, depending on community wants and needs 10-15 years down the road.
Katerndahl suggested the board think about the options and make a decision by the Tuesday, May 7 meeting.