October 15, 2022

At the Lee’s Summit City Council meeting on October 11 Parks and Recreation gave an update on the Park Master Plan and 2022 priorities and goals. Priorities and goals include land for future parks and trails, connecting parks to each other and to other amenities and maintaining existing parks, facilities and trails.

Resource Recovery Park
Parks and Recreation presented the conceptual design of a proposed project to construct a park at the Lee’s Summit Resource Recovery Park. The 263-acre landfill closed in 2019 after 37 years of operation.

The project is an opportunity to repurpose a brownfield site into a landmark reclamation project. To date, Parks has conducted a multi-phase study, met with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and visited cities with similar successful projects. Parks also engaged consultants who have experience with landfill-to-park end-use.

Project challenges include adjacent public disposal and compost activities, truck and industrial traffic and shallow footing depth. The project design consists of four areas, Park Entry (access off Hamblen Rd.), Landfill Cap, Baker’s Dozen and South Landfill. Possible programming elements at the Park Entry include a welcome center, adventure playground, alpine slide and tubing hill, and picnic plaza. Landfill Cap programming could include a viewing platform, observation deck, stair climb, sledding and picnic area. Possible programming for the Baker’s Dozen could include fishing, walking trails, disc golf and shelters. The South Landfill could connect to local and regional trails.

The proposed project would be implemented in phases over the course of three to five years. Next steps include securing funding (estimated $15 to 18 million), obtaining regulatory agency approvals and seeking public input on amenities.

The presentation received favorable feedback from councilmembers.

Fieldhouse Discussion
Parks and Recreation presented their preliminary research on adding a fieldhouse to the parks system. After working with consultants and visiting other fieldhouses amenities being considered include pickleball courts, youth programming and sports, leagues, four hardcourt basketball courts, turf, a track component, an Esports component and a fitness area. Potential fieldhouses of various sizes were presented that could offer six basketball courts, a couple of turf fields, locker rooms and a limited fitness area.

The next steps would be to:
• Determine a location
• Hire a design consultant
• Begin the community input process
• Determine construction and operational costs
• Develop a business plan

Councilmembers were agreeable with the fieldhouse presentation and gave favorable feedback.

Land Dedication/Park Impact Fees
Parks and Recreation presented the economic impact of parks and recreation to the community and the need for a future Land Dedication Ordinance and Park Impact Fees to meet the anticipated growth of the City of Lee’s Summit. A Land Dedication Ordinance would require a developer to dedicate a certain amount of land to park services as a part of their development, and Park Impact Fees would be paid by developers looking to build on land in Lee’s Summit. In the Kansas City area, there are several cities that use Land Dedication Ordinances and Impact Fees.

Councilmembers were in support of both or either of the future endeavors but would like to see options.

The next meeting is October 18.