Editor’s note: This story is part of a series examining the 10-year Parks and Recreation master plan approved by the City Commission. The plan is based on survey results from residents about what they want to see in Eudora and includes renovations to existing parks, new parks and other initiatives to better recreation in town.
More interactive parks with technology, free wifi and programming for active senior citizens are among the improvements that residents should expect to see in the coming years.
Implementation began this month of long-term plans to improve facilities and parks in town that cater to a variety of ages and abilities.
“Eudora has an incredible sense of community,” City Commissioner and Parks Foundation Board member Alex Curnes said. “I also think it’s really important that Eudora remains a great place for all generations. The plan also helps us to see what the community feels is their priority.”
Programming goals include continuing to promote Senior Foundation events that focus on the active senior community. With recreational sports such as pickleball rising in popularity, seniors have become increasingly involved, Assistant Parks and Rec Director Jimmy Kegin said.
“That generation is active,” he said. “They don’t want to have knitting club. They want pickleball.”
Parks and Rec plans to continue partnering with the Senior Foundation for weekly events and Friday Fun Fellowship each month. Weekly events include pickleball, board game days, senior exercise classes and chair yoga.
Technology literacy programs will also be offered to the senior population and those who do not have access to technology.
Technology integration is a large piece of expanding Parks and Rec programming, Director Sally Pennington said. Long-term plans include offering more detailed information online about each park, trail and available amenity, creating a mobile app for event schedules and implementing free wifi into public parks.
With wifi in parks, there could be increased security with added cameras, Pennington said.
“Wifi is a big thing people have asked for,” she said. “It’s hardly even that much digging in the ground. We’ve definitely learned a lot that I feel more comfortable with it.”
Parks and Rec will have the wifi first installed in CPA Park sponsored by Midco next month as the first step in adding it to parks. Other technology goals include a new quarterly or biannual newsletter in both print and virtual formats to provide information on upcoming events.
“Not everybody has access to virtual communication tools,” Curnes said. “For me, this is just us having another tool for us to be able to communicate.”
Parks and Rec programs like farmers markets, yard games, food trucks and holiday decorations are planned to continue due to popularity with the community, Pennington said.
The plan also outlines establishing annual volunteer opportunities for all ages. Parks and Rec wants to highlight volunteers by awarding them with tokens of appreciation and awards to select community volunteers.
Other new initiatives include creating a scholarship fund for membership fees and accommodating needs of those with different abilities or those who speak different languages.
Making parks more accessible is a large part of the plans, even something as simple as QR codes on signs for different languages, she said.
“It’s what the community wants and needs,” Pennington said. “It’s just listening to the community to see if they want something, if we can do it.”
The Parks and Rec Department intends to continue partnerships with schools and local businesses to expand program outreach. Local organizations will continue to have the opportunity to have joint programs or sponsor Parks and Rec events. Businesses could soon sponsor parts of the farmers market, Kegin said.
“We can do it where this week’s entertainment is brought to you by Jasmin’s or another local business. We’ve done team sponsorships,” he said. “There is a lot of opportunities for sponsorship, like face paint, or the entertainment.”
The farmers market will be able to expand with help from sponsors, like adding more amenities such as shade, water fountains and bathrooms, Pennington said.
“Those free events and markets, we don’t want to see go away,” she said. “I think it’s listening to the community to see if they want something, can we do it, do we have the space, staff, time?”
The plan will be implemented over the next decade. Community feedback is vital to making parks facilities their best, Curnes said.
“It was really impactful for me to read what people felt was the most important aspect of the Parks and Rec Department,” Curnes said. “Their sense of identity for Eudora was associated with our parks. I want to make sure we continue that level of parks.”
Reach reporter Maya Smith at [email protected].
