CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULED TO BEGIN IN NOVEMBER
With Park Hill seeking the Kansas City Plan Commission’s approval of a special use permit, the school district is on its way to building new additions to the existing Park Hill and Park High South high schools.
The project at Park Hill High School consists of the construction of two additions to the existing high school building, adding 40,500 square feet of floor space. The $29.7 million additions include a new 2,000-seat competition gymnasium, a new weight room, and a new scene shop. In addition, a new softball field and associated out-building will be constructed.
Renderings produced by Hollis and Miller Architects portray a warm and inviting exterior and modernist hall of champs, where students feel encouraged to interact with one another, school officials say.
Along with the additions, renovations to revitalize selected classrooms will also soon be underway. According to a recent facility assessment carried out by Kevin Nelson and Lana Thorpe, representatives of Hollis + Miller Architects, Park Hill High School is in poor condition and has either major infrastructure needs or requires significant maintenance.
A public hearing to consider the proposed additions will take place at Kansas City Hall at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 5. If all goes according to plan, the additions will be constructed on 95 acres located at the southwest corner of NW Barry Road and N. Congress Ave.
One hundred eighty-eight neighbors near the proposed development have been informed of the public hearing and will have the opportunity to comment on the district’s plan.
The proposed expansion will force the existing softball fields to be relocated a short walk to the west. To accommodate the accretion, additional parking spaces will be added.
Historical records show the current high school building opened in 1967. Decades ago, the sprawling high school linked southward to Congress Hall, but was converted to Congress Middle School following the opening of Park Hill South High School.
Park Hill South
The project at Park Hill South High School consists of the construction of a new band classroom, a new 2,000-seat competition gymnasium, a new weight room, and a scene shop. The $20.4 million additions will add a total of 41,500 square feet of floor space.
“Park Hill School District is thrilled to have the continued support of our community to invest in these additional spaces and upgrades to enhance our student experiences. These spaces and upgrades, designed in collaboration with students, staff, and families, will be community hubs for learning, experiences, and memories. We are excited for our community to have access to these facilities – facilities that will be among the best in the region,” said Kelly Wachel, chief communication officer for the Park Hill district.
Construction at Park Hill and Park Hill South is set to begin in early November and continue through the summer of 2025.
“The designs and decisions for the high school plans are the result of collaborative design team meetings throughout the 2022-2023 school year. Teams of staff, families, and students helped design the new spaces,” reiterated Wachel.
Constructing additions to existing buildings has been a shifting of moods. Looking back, when Park Hill High School and Park Hill South High School experienced overcrowding the district opted to construct the LEAD Innovation Studio rather than constructing any additions with classrooms or community learning spaces.
On the other hand, mobile units were added to the northeast corner of Park Hill High School and remain in place even after the construction and 2017 opening of the LEAD Innovation Studio, which serves high school students across the entire district.
These days, the current Park Hill High School serves a student population of 1,626 students and Park Hill South serves a student population of 1,658. The LEAD Innovation Studio serves 578 students.
Park Hill 2034
The 2023-24 school year kicked off on Monday, Aug. 21 with 11,647 enrolled students. School officials say they are looking ahead and have begun the next phase of developing the district’s future. With 24 schools in the district in various conditions, Park Hill says it has a plan to address the long-range facility needs over the next 10 years. The process has been dubbed Park Hill 2034.
“Park Hill 2034 involves decisions around facilities, classrooms and school space, technology, and how our students and staff use our space. These decisions will be made in unison with our Park Hill staff, families, and community,” said Wachel.
At this time and throughout this year-long planning process, the district is actively soliciting feedback from parents, residents living in the district, as well as teachers and staff employed by the district. Members of the public are invited to join one of two upcoming community meetings:
·Wednesday, Sept. 6, 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Park Hill High School
·Thursday, Sept. 7, 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Park Hill South High School
In addition, a data collection phase survey has also been activated and is open through the end of September. Participants can express their opinions about the existing schools’ interior and exterior conditions to aid the district with its long-range planning process. Details can be found on the district’s website at www.parkhill.k12.mo.us.