(Photo by Brady Bauman)
The City Commission of Arkansas City voted 4-0 on Tuesday night to approve an agreement with Wichita-based LK Architecture for professional architectural, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and structural engineering services for Wilson Park, according to a news release from the city manager’s office Thursday.
The agreement kicks off the official design of Phase 1 of the Wilson Park Master Plan, which is set to include the new farm and art market canopy, playground, restroom, splash pad, and walking paths. Over the next 12 weeks, LK Architecture also will make minor updates to the master plan, which it was instrumental in helping to create in 2015 and 2016. As part of the $60,500 agreement, LK will subcontract with Hydro Dramatics, of St. Louis, Missouri, for the splash pad design and MKEC Engineering, also of Wichita, for all structural engineering. Smith & Oakes will provide civil engineering.
A prefabricated farm and art market structure will be designed and purchased through Poligon Products, and then assembled on site by City staff to reduce construction costs significantly.
“This (12-week process) really kicks off the entire project,” stated City Manager Nick Hernandez. “Also, (LK is) going to help us with a grant application with the State of Kansas through a Land and Water Conservation Fund (grant) for the splash pad, as well, to help offset (costs) and enhance it.”
Earlier this year, the City of Arkansas City applied for $263,144.11 in matching funds from the V.J. Wilkins Foundation for the advancement of the Wilson Park Master Plan. This money would be part of the Foundation’s $500,000 Challenge Grant to match, dollar for dollar, funds raised for the Master Plan.
The City’s match consisted of in-kind contributions toward the 2017 restoration of the BNSF train engine and tender in the park, including $1,382 from Mid-West Electric, $97,330 from L.G. Pike Construction and $97,242 from Rob Carroll Sandblasting & Painting. It also includes a $10,000 grant from BNSF, given as part of a Heritage Community Award that Arkansas City received fo the work.
The Wilkins Foundation has agreed to accept in-kind contributions in lieu of cash contributions and thus has pledged $205,954 toward the project, payable in three installments of $68,651 annually in 2018, 2019 and 2020. The $60,500 cost of this agreement will be reimbursed through this year’s payment.
Additionally, the Foundation noted a pending agreement with Creekstone Farms to provide 10 annual payments of $30,000 toward Wilson Park, as payment in exchange for an economic exemption, which will provide sufficient match for the remaining $295,000 of the Challenge Grant. Accordingly, the Foundation has extended the grant-match deadline to June 30, 2019, which will allow for full usage of it.
(Image courtesy City of Arkansas City)
“We are extremely grateful to the V.J. Wilkins Foundation and Board of Trustees for their support of this important community project since the very beginning,” Hernandez said. “This grant is both a large gift and a big challenge, but it is a challenge I am confident Arkansas City will continue rising to meet.”
After some discussion, Commissioner Duane Oestmann made a motion to approve the agreement and Commissioner Karen Welch seconded his motion, which was approved unanimously.
Although the City maintains a list of citizens who signed up in 2017 to be part of the design process for individual elements of Wilson Park, more volunteers are needed to make this project a reality.
Residents interested in serving on a design committee or learning more about it are encouraged to contact Public Information Officer Andrew Lawson at (620) 441-4415 or alawson@arkansascityks.gov.
Donating to Wilson Park
To generate momentum for the project and demonstrate that funds will be used as their donor intended, the City of Arkansas City has initiated the Friends of Wilson Park, a contribution fund residing with Legacy Regional Community Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based in Cowley County.
Payments may be made at www.legacyregionalfoundation.org/Donations or mailed to Legacy Foundation, P.O. Box 701, Arkansas City, KS 67005. Cash, checks, credit and debit cards are accepted.
Checks should be made payable to Legacy Foundation with “Friends of Wilson Park” indicated on the check’s memo line. Donations may be made to individual components of the Master Plan, if so desired. This also should be noted in the check’s memo field.
In addition to cash gifts, gifts of stock, bonds, mutual funds, real estate, life insurance, bequests and other financial vehicles also may be accommodated by Legacy Regional Community Foundation. Legacy also can set up payment plans for donations that span up to three years, with reminders. It also will provide receipts that validate the tax-exempt status of any donations to Friends of Wilson Park.
Park donors will be recognized and thanked publicly on the Friends of Wilson Park Facebook page at www.facebook.com/WilsonParkFriends, unless they specifically request to remain anonymous.Funds donated for specific portions of the Wilson Park Master Plan will be disbursed to the City only as each portion of the plan enters the planning and construction phases. Please call the Legacy Regional Community Foundation at (620) 221-7224 or email Executive Director Yazmin Wood at yazmin.legacy@yahoo.com with any questions about the donation process.
ACPD officer recognized
The commission also recognized Ark City Police Department Officer Madeline Pegorsch’s recent graduation from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center in Yoder during its meeting Tuesday.. Police Chief Dan Ward said
Pegorsch was elected class president by her peers and finished ninth in her class. She is the second straight ACPD president, after fellow officer Kelsey Horinek in 2016.
