Politics & Government
Project Parks Swimming Along, Wentzville Director Tells Board
Plans for Splash Station, Heartland and Puruque Valley parks should be ready for bid this summer. Projected opening dates are in 2014.
Wentzville Park Board members heard a Project Parks update during their Monday meeting at city hall.
Parks Director Mary Jo Dessieux gave updates on the three parks being developed: Splash Station, Heartland Park and Peruque Valley Park.
Dessieux said the Wentzville School District staff members are looking into ways to convey seven acres of to Splash Station to the city.
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“In return, the city will enlarge their storm-water basin and utilize that for both sites and maintain it,” she said.
The city also will build a road from Splash Station Aquatic Center parking lot to the school property. During bad weather, cars picking up children at the school stack up on Peine Road, Dessieux said.
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“There’s some safety concerns,” she said. “By using the parking lot in Splash Station, they’ll be able to queue or stack in the parking lot, be off Peine Road and enter right onto school property. So, that’s a win-win for everybody.”
Enlarging the parking lot in that area also will help Peine Ridge School, Dessieux said.
Dessieux said the parks are in the design phases now, but Splash Station will be ready for bids in June. The sports complexes at the other two parks will be ready for bids in August, she said.
Other updates on Project Parks were:
- Analysis Drawings of the parks have been submitted to the Wentzville Fire Protection District;
- Splash Station needs a weather warning siren pole on Peine Road relocated;
- Staff is working on wetland and environmental mitigation issues at Heartland Park;
- The IT Department is getting a quote from CenturyLink for 200 feet of fiber-optic cable for Splash Station;
Name that park
Dessieux also gave the board details on the park naming contest for the parkland at 200 and 202 Northview Ave. near Holt High School and Heritage Elementary School. Two homes were removed from the site due to flooding.
Dessieux said parks staff also want to encourage students from the district to use the area as an outdoor classroom.
“You will see different types of wetland plants flourishing. It’s an educational opportunity for the schools to utilize,” she said.
Submissions for the park naming contest will be accepted through 5 p.m. April 20 at Wentzville City Hall or the Progress Park Recreation Center. The winner will be announced within a few weeks and recognized by the mayor at a Board of Aldermen meeting in honor of Earth Day 2012.
The site’s name should be inspired by the natural park features or be related to its storm-water benefits, according to a city news release.
Socializing parks
Board member Kari Johnson suggested the Parks Department look into getting its own Facebook page.
“I know the city has one for city business, but parks is so much different,” Johnson said. “With all our new parks coming up, I think having our own Facebook page will be very beneficial.”
Dessieux said she would look into the suggestion.
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