Shawnee City Commissioners are back to square one on the regional sports complex and have returned to the north airport property on Kickapoo and Hazel Del Road as a potential site.
Mayor Chuck Mills said Monday night that the plan for the city to purchase land owned by Grant Dockery north of Shawnee Mall will not be feasible because Dockery’s family chose to not sell the land.
“We have made a full circle,” Mills said, referring to the city’s process in choosing a location for the regional sports complex.
Commissioners did not make indications whether the location would be the site for the complex, but Mills said he would put the item on the next commission’s agenda for consideration.
For more than nine years, Shawnee officials have searched for the prime location for the project. The initial site was at the north airport property, and master plans were developed by Hornbeck Larson Blatt Architects.
Commissioner Tom Schrzan said that in 2004, the city received input that the airport site was too far for children to travel.
“This board killed that (airport site proposal) in 2004,” he said.
After a change in leadership on the commission in 2004, city officials decided to move the complex closer to Interstate 40, but property acquisition would cost more than what the city had in the bank. Mills said because of costs, the proposed site is back to the airport property.
City Engineer John Krywicki said estimates for phase one — including six soccer fields, infrastructure and parking lots — are $2,016,000. Krywicki said the city could save money by reducing the number of parking spaces from 650 to 250.
He said construction costs have increased during the past eight years without the city setting aside additional money.
The project is funded by the penny-sales tax, which was approved in March 1999. The project received $1 million for parking, infrastructure and soccer fields. The city has $888,744 left.
Mills said the city has the potential to receive an additional $200,000 to $500,000 in grant funding, but the city has to act and “get a toehold.”
He said the city needs to start on the project, and there is the potential for city officials to ask the voters for a bond issue to build the additional soccer fields and baseball fields.
Schrzan said it is a shame the money has sat for eight years without being used. He said the money could be used for recreation opportunities, including upgrading parks and the municipal pool.
Mills said the city could use the money to upgrade parks, but that is not the facility voters were promised in 1999.
“This is as good as it gets,” Mills said, adding the city has exhausted every other option. “We can start this right now.”
Commissioner Linda Peterson said the city is where it was before the last election in 2004, and the commissioners who still will be on the commission after November will have a serious decision.
Mills said commissioners can vote how they want, and he is putting the item on the Oct. 20 agenda.
Krywicki said city staff is needing guidance in how the commission wants to proceed.
“We need to know,” he said. “We’re looking for direction.”
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Amanda Gire may be reached at 214-3934.
By the numbers
9 Number of years commissioners have been working to secure a location to build the sports park
1999The year the project was approved and funded by the penny-sales tax. $1 million was received for construction
2004 The year the board originally killed the plan to locate the sports park at the north airport property
