The implementation of a large portion of the master plan for Platte Landing Park is running into some opposition in Parkville.
The construction of ball fields has long been planned for the once county-owned park, with city director of public works Alysen Abel updating aldermen at the Feb. 2 meeting about the project plans, and a grant application remitted to Platte County Parks and Recreation. The board approve the application on a split vote that night, with aldermen Tina Welch and Phil Wassmer voting no.
The county purchased the property in 2008 with plans to build a park, including recreational fields. In 2016, the city of Parkville took over those plans.
Abel said due to a balance of remaining funds from Platte County's half-cent parks, recreation and stormwater sales tax – which expired at the end of 2020 and was renewed at a quarter-cent – the county is offering one-time large project partnership funding. These grants range from $50,000 to $1 million.
With this in mind, city officials hosted a work session last month to discuss moving forward with the partnership program application, with the potential to build out the ball fields at Platte Landing, including expanded parking, and potentially, field lighting.
The board heard concerns from several members of the public citing worries ranging from the impact of ball field lights on migratory birds to the impacts on property values in the river bluffs above the park.
Alderman Bob Lock argued that the complaints were “putting the cart before the horse,” since the only matter up for discussion and approval by the board that night was the grant application.
Mayor Nan Johnston said these are the first steps of the active planning process and additional public input will be accepted as the project moves forward. Johnston said this was a project long in the planning.
“These fields are in not only the county's master plan, but they were also in the city's 2016 master plan, so there will be something there,” she said.
Alderman Marc Sportsman pointed out that there has been public input in the project since 2008 when Platte County first purchased the property and promised ball fields.
The city's own dedicated parks tax can provide matching funds if the city is awarded the county grant. Last year, grant awards were delayed due to COVID-19 and this year may be similar, Abel said, but the city expects to know if they will be awarded a county grant within two months.