Plenty of potential for Kiwanis Park

An underdeveloped park that could be something great for neighborhood kids.

A trusted organization that has helped Cape Girardeau with countless civic projects.

What's not to like about an agreement that brings these two entities together?

That's what happened last week when the Cape Girardeau City Council agreed to rename Cherokee Park. It's now Kiwanis Park. In return, the Kiwanis Club has committed to improving the northside park with $150,000 for new picnic shelters and playground equipment immediately and perhaps softball fields and hiking trails in the future.

The agreement doesn't mean city parks are for sale to the highest bidder. The council and city employees did a lot of work before making this commitment to a name change. They plan to take such proposals on a case-by-case basis, considering the merits of the organizations behind them and the potential benefits for city residents.

It's a plan that can mean a lot of good things without spending a lot of tax money.