Parkville residents are organizing against a proposal to build lighted ballfields at Platte Landing Park.
A Facebook group entitled “Save Parkville’s Charm” was launched last week, garnering more than 150 likes in less than a week of existence.
“This Save Parkville’s Charm - Save Our Parks page has been created to bring awareness to all Parkville residents and visitors that Parkville city officials are planning to construct lighted ballfields and multi-use sports fields in Platte Landing Park, south of Parkville’s downtown Main Street,” the website states.
While fields have long been planned for Platte Landing Park, located along the Missouri River adjoining English Landing Park, critics say the plans have changed in scale and, if constructed, the lighted fields would destroy the natural beauty of the parks.
The Parkville Board of Aldermen was set to meet Tuesday, March 16, with the park project on the agenda. Ballpark critics have called for the public to speak out at the meeting. See next week’s issue of the Citizen for coverage of the meeting.
Critics note that $2 million has been spent to restore wetlands in the area, with the development possibly threatening that work.
Mary Nemecek of the Burroughs Audubon Society recently contacted the Citizen with her concerns.
“It appears they have already made up their mind and are just snowing the taxpayers -- who have already invested millions in federal tax dollars in the wetlands project,” Nemecek said. “They are now wanting to invest $400,000 in local tax dollars in lighting conduit that may not be used? No one believes that. They contend lighting studies will be done in the future - how do you know where to run conduit if you don’t know where you are placing lights?”
City administrator Joe Parente told the Citizen early this week that the park project process was just beginning and reiterated that no decision had yet been made on ballfield lighting.
“At this point, we only have a preliminary concept plan and are trying to determine how much funding is available for the project before we consider a more detailed design,” Parente said. “The city has not decided whether the lighting of the fields will be part of the project. It was stated that before lighting is considered, a study would first be performed to provide information about any potential impacts. The public will also have an opportunity for continued dialogue with the city as the planning for the project progresses.”
The construction of ball fields has long been planned for the once county-owned park, with a grant application remitted to Platte County Parks and Recreation last month on a split vote. Aldermen Tina Welch and Phil Wassmer voted 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.