By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Ground work on the Phase 2 splash pad in the new ARC Park in Hays, 33rd and Hillcrest, is scheduled to begin Tuesday.
"Everything is happening rather quickly up there," Jeff Boyle, parks director, reported to Hays city commissioners Thursday evening. Mayor Sandy Jacobs applauded with delight.
Boyle noted it will be several weeks before the splash pad's concrete work will be visible.
Ground was broken Oct. 9, 2020 for the 3-phase project, which has been spearheaded by local parents of special needs children and directors at the Arc of Central Plains.
Installation of Phase 1 playground structures has been slowed by recent wet weather. The main feature is nearly completed and other accessible play equipment will soon be erected.
"The playground is really getting going," Boyle said.
The Accessible Recreation Park (ARC) is funded primarily by private and business donations, numerous fundraisers, and grants. The city of Hays agreed to pay for building the parking lot, using a portion of its share of the Ellis County one-half cent sales tax.
City commissioners also agreed in November to make a $300,000 donation towards splash pad.
Kaw Valley Engineering was hired by the city to design the 46-stall concrete lot, which has to be safe and accessible with handicapped parking spaces and a passenger drop-off area.
"They matched the elevations of all the other items, the playground and the splash pad, so all the sidewalks and everything will be seamless," Boyle explained. "No hills or anything to deal with.
"I think with the popularity that we're going to see with this park is a good thing because parking on 33rd Street, in my opinion, is extremely dangerous, especially with young kids."
ARC Park is located within the existing 7 Hills Optimist Park which has several soccer, football and basketball fields, a playground, picnic shelter, and other amenities.
There is street parking surrounding the park, but Boyle says building such a high use park requires a consideration of off-street parking.
There were six bids for construction of the parking lot. T&T Builders, Hays, had the low bid of $200,136, below the budgeted $250,000. The company has done other work in Hays, including concrete work at the Bickle/Schmidt Sports Complex and a large parking lot at Fort Hays State University.
Sarah Meitner, Arc of the Central Plains board president, was in the audience and asked by Jacobs if she was satisfied with the design.
"Absolutely," Meitner replied.
"It was our intention all along to have adequate space for handicapped parking spots, bus parking, and the drop-off area, which adds to the mobility options and having that accessibility."
The ARC Park is currently offering up to 10 personalized memorial benches- for a $5,000 sponsorship each - which will be placed in the drop-off area for people waiting to be picked up.
A donor wall will also be mounted in the drop-off area.
There are two entrances to 7 Hills Optimist Park, one off 33rd Street and another off Canal Boulevard.
Meitner says a sign will be placed at the 33rd Street entrance reading "Welcome to 7 Hills Park, Home of the ARC Park and Optimist Playground."
Additional sponsored benches may be placed throughout the ARC Park, outside of the fenced area.
Jacobs also asked about the requirements for the number of handicapped parking spaces. Boyle said the design at present meets the minimum federal requirements.
"It would be fairly simple to add to that number, if we think it's necessary," Boyle said.
The parking lot must be completed before July 1. T&T told Boyle it's ready to go if commissioners approve the low bid at next week's meeting. "I would anticipate it being done long before July 1st," Boyle said.
Commissioner Shaun Musil noted that several trees will have to be removed in order to build the parking lot.
Boyle said the city expects to replant mature trees and said Meitner has secured donations of trees from local nurseries. The city may also transplant trees from its tree farm east of Commerce Parkway.
The project was slowed by the coronavirus pandemic during 2020. A revised opening date for the playground was moved to May 1, 2021, with a July 4th opening for the splash pad.
Jacobs has been an outspoken proponent of the ARC Park, calling it a economic contributor to Hays' economy. Meitner and other volunteers project a large volume of users making the new park a destination location, and expect families with special needs children pulling off Interstate 70 to take a break and enjoy the fun.
Phase 3 of the ARC Park is a baseball field featuring a turf infield and outfield, with in-ground bases so individuals with limited mobility can also enjoy playing ball. Youth teams in the community will be allowed to play on it.
Donations to the ARC Park can be made online.