IMPROVEMENTS CONTINUING AT RISING STAR
With installation of a zip line recently completed, the focus is turning to additional improvements for the Rising Star Park in Platte City, home to the splash pad.
Rising Star Park is located off of Second Street in Platte City, at the site where the Rising Star Elementary School once stood. Exact address is 1009 Second Street.
Two smaller shade structures and a permanent restroom are part of the next set of improvements, intended to offer some protection for park-goers from the hot summer sun. A larger shade structure will be installed at a later time, after the two smaller structures are completed, city officials say.
City officials say the concrete for the two small shade installations is currently stabilizing. The shades will be installed on the posts prior to the park’s spring opening, according to the city.
The contractor that will be providing the restroom has estimated that production will begin in about one month. Delivery of the structure is expected in mid-December, which is earlier than first anticipated, city officials say. The bathroom contract was awarded to CXT.
Like the small shade structures, the restroom will be ready for the start of spring season, the city indicates.
The city has not begun working on a planned picnic shelter or additional parking at the park, according to a recent report from Brad Wallace, city public works director.
The City of Platte City has three current parks and recreation grants. Two of those are partnership grants with Platte County Parks and Recreation
Grant A is a $308,000 matching grant to fund Rising Star Phase 1-B consisting of two small and one large sun shelters, the zip line, permanent bathrooms, picnic shelter and additional parking.
Grant B is a $400,000 matching grant to renovate the current City Hall on Main Street into a downtown community room after the new City Hall/police station is completed along Marshall Road, which is targeted to be March.
Funding for design and bid packet is requested in the city’s fiscal year 2022-23 budget. Construction of the renovation is planned for late 2023/early 2024, city officials say.
When completed, the downtown community room will allow the city to permanently close the Civic Center Community Room at 308 Zed Martin Street and the Platte City Community Building (former Lions Club building) at 305 North Street.
The city also has a recreational trails grant through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, which is a $216,000 matching grant, to replace .65 miles of failing asphalt trails with new concrete trail surface. The engineering design contract with VSM Engineering was approved in October. Construction is planned to begin in the spring with completion in July/August of 2023.