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Joplin
parks receive makeover, as well as new athletic complex Staff Writer
Joplin s
parks are getting a facelift and a new athletic complex is in the works
for the city. Some
of the parks in town have already received improvements. These
improvements were made after the department of parks and recreation
surveyed 750 area residents to decide what the citizens thought needed
to be changed in the parks. There s
really not been a lot accomplished with the parks in several years,
said Jerry Calvin, director of parks and recreation for Joplin.
There s never been a parks master plan as far as determining what
citizen needs were. The
survey showed the main concern of citizens was the outdated
amenities. Restrooms
have been there for a lot of years and needed a lot of improvements,
Calvin said. And the playground equipment didn t comply with the
new safety guidelines that are in place. Aside
from these improvements, all parks will be updated to meet the
requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Lighting and
parking improvements will also be made to all parks. I
think the parks are well managed and well maintained, said Caleb
Gallemore, freshman international studies major. But the parks
hours are a bit inconvenient for college students. The
parks master plan is funded buy the parks and storm water sales tax,
with $10 million allocated to the parks department from this tax. When
the tax is renewed, the department will receive an additional $10
million to complete the improvements. The
master plan is a 10-year plan for the improvement on the parks. During
that time, both Cunningham and Ewert pools will be upgraded to
accommodate more people. A
new athletic complex, a site yet to be determined, will also be built
using $6 million of the $20 million. The complex will include new
baseball fields, soccer fields and tennis courts. Calvin
said the complex will also have nice restrooms, a nice concession,
maybe a clubhouse where people can buy supplies and equipment for their
particular sport and a playground for the younger kids. Three
baseball fields around Joplin will be shut down and be replaced in the
new athletic center, as well as the tennis courts at Schifferdecker
Park. Memorial
Hall will also benefit from these improvements. The heating and air
conditioning will be upgraded. Its roof will be redone. The interior
will see changes to meet ADA requirements as well as improvements made
to the stage area. Another part of the plan is a nature center at Wildcat Park. The center is a joint effort between the city of Joplin, the National Audubon Society and the Missouri Department of Conservation. The center would help preserve some of the park s natural features. |
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Russ Hagerman/The Chart Rachelle Hawks, senior nursing major, and Jera Gallemore, senior nursing major, jog on the trails of Murphey Park in Joplin. This is one of the many parks that will see an improvement after a new 10-year plan is to put in place to jazz up area recreational facilities. |