By Debby Woodin
dwoodin@joplinglobe.com
Ideas and suggestions for future park and recreation amenities in Joplin will be sought at a public meeting Monday.
The city is seeking views from residents for a number of reasons.
Planning will soon begin for the second phase of development of the 100-acre athletic complex at 3301 W. First St. The complex contains tennis courts, soccer fields and a baseball stadium, and there is a plan by the city to soon have a four-field softball complex.
Officials also are seeking comments from residents in preparation for a decision on asking voters to renew a quarter-cent sales tax for parks and stormwater projects. The tax will expire in 2012. It has financed about $10 million worth of park projects since it was imposed in 2002.
The survey seeks information on what park aspects residents currently use and what they would be interested in having in the future.
Copies of the survey were distributed in the city’s Citizen newsletter earlier this month. The survey also is available on the city’s Web site at www.joplinmo.org and at city locations including the athletic complex.
Patrick Tuttle, director of the Joplin Sports Authority, said he will be interested in what residents have to say at Monday’s meeting. “I’m going to attend just to listen in because that also helps us know what to offer,” Tuttle said in reference to the sports authority.
Indoor center
An indoor recreation center will be on Jodi Hilbert’s wish list. She operates Playmakers, an indoor batting cage and coaching business at 412 S. Cox Ave.
Hilbert attended a youth sports summit held Sept. 29 by the parks department in which coordination of youth sports surfaced as one idea for improving offerings to children.
“Although it seems that baseball and softball somewhat monopolized that meeting, there were people there representing swimming as well as basketball and volleyball that said there is a need for an indoor facility for swim meets as well as volleyball and basketball games,” Hilbert said. Building the softball fields at the sports complex also is “a step in the right direction,” she said.
Joe Becker
An indoor aquatic center was mentioned by several participants, including Tuttle, at a city “envisioning” meeting in August. Tuttle also suggested upgrading the historic Joe Becker Stadium as a future project.
“Anything we can do to keep the youth in this city involved is going to do nothing but improve the condition of our community and the graduation rate,” Hilbert said.
The Joplin School District has made reducing the dropout rate a priority.
Doug Joyce, parks and recreation director, said at the youth sports summit that there is a correlation between youth participation in athletic and recreation programs, and completion of high school.
Civic center
Cynthia Schwab, founder of the music series Pro Musica, said there could be some room for discussion of some type of civic center that would accommodate many activities.
Proposals for an arts or performing arts venue were made at the envisioning meeting that will be used next spring to establish a list of projects to pursue.
“I know there’s been talk about some sort of facility with a couple of auditoriums,” Schwab said. “Room for arts and artists is definitely needed, and would be an attraction.
“There’s certainly been more comment and more movement toward recognizing the arts are good for their own sake, but they also are a factor in economic development. There are marvelous learning experiences in the arts for children because it widens horizons. It gives them an area where their imaginations may work in which there is no right or wrong. The health and vitality of the arts is a sign of the health and vitality of the whole community itself.”
Sharon Beshore, who is serving on a committee of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce involving promotion of the arts, said she does not plan to present a suggestion at Monday’s meeting. “The arts are not related to this funding,” she said.
Time and place
The parks meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday at the Joplin Athletic Complex, 3301 W. First St.
