Public input into Parkville ballfield project to come, officials say

The contentious subject of new ballfields at Platte Landing Park again came up last week at the meeting of the Parkville Board of Aldermen.

At the Tuesday, June 1 meeting, alderman Tina Welch asked about promised public forums regarding the ballfields, which critics say will compromise the wetland restoration project, reduce property values and create too much traffic downtown. This past spring, residents in the nearby Missouri River bluffs and members of the Burroughs Audubon Society expressed concerns about lighting proposals for the wetlands.

The county purchased the property in 2008 with plans to build a park, including recreational fields. In 2016, Parkville took over those plans. Fields have long been planned for this park, which adjoins English Landing Park, but residents have become concerned the city hopes to build a large, commercialized project in the municipal park. City officials have denied this several times.

In response, in March, the city promised to remove lighting plans from the preliminary project plans and to host public forums. Director of public works Alysen Abel said the city was still in talks with consulting firm Vireo to plan an education campaign about the project, but that this campaign would not include public design workshops.

City administrator Joe Parente said Vireo would work with city staff and the project engineer to gather public input, when specific design elements are proposed.

“What we have right now is a concept plan and that’s it – as we get into design then we will have more information,” Parente said. “There are some issues that have been identified and we’ll study those issues – wetlands, traffic ­— we’ve already started on some of those things and all of those will be wrapped into public discussion.”

Aldermen Phil Wassmer said the public fears that a final plan will simply be presented, with no allowances made for a true public input process.

“All we have - and I’ll say this for the umpteenth time – is a concept plan, and it’s not the best drawing in the world,” Parente said, adding that a project engineer had yet to be hired and the city was still negotiating with Vireo as well. “We can’t go through public engagement until we get to that point.”

Welch and Wassmer led the board response to citizen concerns in March, which sparked off the formation of a Facebook page dedicated to the park issue.

“The fear is that it’s been three months, and the plan will just show up and there hasn’t been any public input,” Welch said, and asked about the status of a grant application through Platte County Parks and Recreation.

Parente said the county has yet to make a decision on its grant awards, as this program is separate from the county’s annual Parks and Recreation Outreach Grant program. The project is essentially on hold until grant funding is finalized, a project engineer secured and public engagement contract work with Vireo – which is estimated to cost $10,000 itself – is negotiated.