Parks sets more projects in motion

The Jefferson City Parks Department will demolish vacant structures at 602 and 604 E. McCarty St., formally open the renovated playground at McClung Park and develop a policy for dealing with drones.

The department's Park Resources and Planning Committee took the actions Tuesday, while meeting at the Binder Lake Deck.

The two properties on East McCarty will be removed this fall. The land will be incorporated into the Dunklin Street trail head on the city's greenway, according to J.J. Gates, parks resources and forestry division director.

Because of increasing use of drones, staff is researching guidelines and enforcement, Gates said. Drones are widely available and used for recreation, as well as more practical applications in agriculture, manufacturing and real estate. The drone policy is separate from the continuing discussion of radio-controlled airplanes at Miller Park, he added.

Andy Carroll, parks and landscape planner, said the overhaul of McClung Park's playground could be completed this week, certainly by next week. The ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for Nov. 2. After the opening of the new McClung playground, the Parks Department will begin work on those at Aurora, Community and East Miller parks - all of which may be covered in a single contract, Gates said.

The committee also reviewed the many public comments that had been submitted on the website of the Lincoln University Wellness and Parks Multi-Purpose Recreation Center, which is nearing completion. Each of the comments received a personal response, Gates told the committee.

Tina Werner, general recreation and support services division director, said there were numerous misconceptions expressed in the comments. A visitor who purchases a drop-in day pass will have access to the entire facility, she said. Werner also said she already was receiving many requests for bookings in the 80,000-square-foot, three-story facility on Lafayette Street. The requests range from meeting rooms to tournaments.

The Parks Department does not have a master plan, but one is on Director Todd Spalding's short list of goals. Members of the Resources and Planning Committee offered suggestions ranging from re-opening the Binder Lake Deck as a restaurant to installing a dog park at McClung, creating a paintball space and dramatically improving the basketball courts at East Miller Park.