By NATE KING
Salina Post
At its recent study session meeting, the Salina City Commission received an update on proposed upgrades to Jerry Ivey Memorial Park. Jeff Hammond, Director of Parks and Recreation, and Jim Schuessler from George Butler Associates, based in Lenexa, presented preliminary designs for the renovations, including a new splash pad, an enhanced water wall, and updates to the park's memorial and landscaping.
Hammond explained that after the demolition of the Jerry Ivey pond, staff conducted community surveys to determine what should replace it.
"Several design preferences of the water feature that indicated a preference for a more natural concept of a water feature," Hammond said. "A feature with flowing water and the use of natural stone."
Earlier this year, damage was discovered to the splash pad's plumbing, and the City Commission approved design services for upgrades, including the splash pad, water feature, memorial, and site improvements.
The proposed new design includes a 30-foot water wall with an eight-foot-wide waterfall, various spray features within the new splash pad, and upgraded sidewalks and landscaping throughout the park.
Commissioner Jerry Ivey Jr., the son of the late patrolman Jerry Ivey, said although his family is deeply connected to memorializing the park's namesake, he hoped other commissioners wouldn't simply defer to his judgment.
"I want everyone up here [commissioners] to know that this isn't my decision alone," Ivey said. "Obviously everyone's looking at me for obvious reasons, but I also want to hear the input of everyone else up here."
The project’s estimated cost is $949,200, which includes $85,000 for general demolition, $84,200 for the water wall, and $97,000 for memorial upgrades. Pumps and filtration systems for the water features alone are projected to cost $290,000.
Commissioners raised concerns about the scale of the water wall and asked for more detailed renderings. Commissioners also questioned whether the current rendering, which shows the memorial having the backdrop of the high school, would look better if the backdrop were looking on at the rest of the park.
"My brother and I had this conversation this weekend, but I think the park itself is the memorial. It's the Memorial Park, and this [the memorial plaza to Jerry Ivey] is just a small part that kind of says why," Ivey said. "If it came down to dollars and cents, we would rather see the money put towards making the amenities better, the spray grounds better, or the or, you know, those kind of features better, versus making this big, elaborate memorial here."
Hammond said the project is expected to be funded from the park's maintenance budget.
"There is funding approved for this year to cover a portion of the cost," Hammond said. "The remaining portions would come out of that fund balance of park maintenance. That's my tentative plan to fund this was coming solely from park maintenance, but one from an approved project. The approved project was $650,000 for the water feature portion. But then any remaining dollars would come from the park maintenance fund. The fund balance of the park maintenance fund, which I think currently at about $1.8 million."
Annual operational costs for the new features are estimated at $3,500-$5,000, in addition to weekly staff hours during the park’s operational season.
While no final decisions were made, the city aims to complete the upgrades by May 2025, pending further approval and the completion of the bidding process.
Staff and Schuessler said they would return with refined plans and additional visuals for commissioners at a later date.