Cape Girardeau officials scale back plans for park projects

Cape Girardeau city officials have scaled back plans for spending extra sales-tax money on park projects. Among other things, the move would put plans for a skate park on hold.

The revised plan calls for spending $1.58 million in parks and stormwater sales-tax revenue on five projects rather than eight and phasing in Shawnee Park sports complex improvements.

The initial spending plan proposed by parks and recreation director Julia Thompson called for spending $3.9 million in added sales tax money.

City council members questioned the original plan at their last meeting. Some council members questioned spending all of the money on parks projects, suggesting some of the money should go to stormwater improvements.

Ward 6 Councilman Wayne Bowen pointed out there have been "a lot of recent complaints" from residents about stormwater problems in the city.

The council will vote today on a measure to approve the revised park projects spending plan. The plan would include $750,000 for improvements to the lazy river island at Cape Splash, $480,000 for field improvements at the Shawnee Park sports complex, $150,000 for mechanical/pump room renovations at the Central Municipal Pool, $107,000 for drainage and gym lighting improvements at the Osage Centre and $100,000 for a paved parking lot at the Arena Park 4-H exhibit hall.

Thompson said the trimmed-down list would leave a balance of $2.3 million in added sales-tax money for future projects.

The remaining projects would be reviewed next year as part of the annual capital improvements planning process, she said in a report to the council. Besides the Arena Park skate park, the projects on that unfunded list include construction of restrooms and other improvements at Capaha Park and additional improvements at Shawnee Park.

Thompson originally proposed spending $1.8 million on Shawnee Park improvements, spread over two phases. They included improvements to ball fields, parking areas and restroom/concession facilities and added lighting for some fields.

City manager Scott Meyer said the revised list of projects proposed for immediate funding are "time critical projects that we need to get out and under contract."

Thompson said the projects could commence by the end of the summer if approved by the council.

The Cape Splash project would transform the water park's island by adding a pavilion and a ship that squirts water. Improving the space, which is unused, would eliminate a mowing problem and increase daily capacity at the water park by 100 to 200 people. according to Thompson.

At Shawnee Park, plans call for major renovations to four softball fields, including excavating and rebuilding the infields and improving drainage, as well as adding an irrigation system to better maintain the outfield grass. Thompson said the improvements will help the Shawnee Park sports complex attract more tournaments.

Meyer and Thompson said the recommended projects would improve efficiency, reduce maintenance costs and, in the case of Cape Splash and Shawnee Park, bring in additional revenue.

Meyer said city staff and the city council will continue to study possible stormwater projects that could be undertaken in the future.

Voters approved the parks and stormwater sales tax in April 2008. Cost savings on projects, conservative fiscal estimates and higher-than-expected tax collections have fueled the additional funding, city officials said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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