A hopeful project which would provide an all-inclusive park and a new building for The Special Learning Center is still in the works, and parks staff is hopeful for the future.
During Tuesday's Parks and Recreation Commission meeting, JC Parks Department Director Todd Spalding updated the commission on the project, which is still in its infancy stage.
The potential project has three partners - the Jefferson City Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department, The Special Learning Center and the Everett D. and Geneva V. Sugarbaker Foundation.
The Sugarbaker Foundation, created by the Sugarbaker family after years of community involvement, originally approached JC Parks and SLC with an idea to turn a plot of their land into an all-inclusive park and build a new center for SLC.
The foundation offered to give JC Parks 13.5 acres of land on the west side of town near Memorial Park and the Cathedral of St. Joseph, between West Main Street and Industrial Drive.
The park would be completely accessible to all ages and abilities, with specially designed play equipment and terrain.
On Saturday, Spalding and commission President Chris Leuckel met with the Sugarbaker Foundation board - made up of children and grandchildren of the foundation's namesakes - to discuss the plan, along with representatives from the SLC.
"It was a great meeting," Spalding said. "There was lots of nods of their heads and great comments."
They also left the meeting with some questions from the foundation on the very preliminary plans, which will be part of future conversations and work.
Spalding said the meeting was a good way for all those involved in the project to discuss it together.
While no final decision has been made on the project by any party, Spalding and Leuckel said they are optimistic about the project's future and that the Parks Department is committed to the plan.
Leuckel said any decisions will need to be approved by the commission in the future, and concrete work on a park or new building is likely still years away.
In other business, the commission approved a few contracts relating to other ongoing projects.
A change order for improvements to the McClung Park pavilion was approved, adding $59,892 in costs to the construction contract with Little Dixie Construction.
The additional work includes relocating an electrical panel, repairing an electrical panel, upgrading the foyer and additional asphalt replacement.
This change brings the full contract to $1,174,468.
The commission also approved a $366,257 contract with Rhad A Baker Construction, of Fulton, for improvements to the Kansas Street crosswalk and Greenway Trail lighting in front of Washington Park Ice Arena.
Improvements are intended to help address speeding on Kansas Street in front of the arena and provide lighting on the trails, which is currently lacking.
The plan is to install a speed table in front of the arena to reduce speeds. Speed tables are longer than speed bumps, designed to raise the entire wheelbase of a vehicle.