A new city park in northwest Lawrence would be a welcome addition.

Last week, the city discussed plans to devote 10 acres of its 29-acre property near the intersection of Overland Drive and Wakarusa Drive for a use as a city park. The concept is for the park to include a fitness integration trail with stations featuring exercise equipment such as pull-up bars and rope strengthening.

The site for the park is just west of Free State High School and is the same location where the city plans to build its new police headquarters. The headquarters will take up 16 acres, a little more than half of the property space.

The plan is for the park to be in a wooded area on the northern edge of the property.

The park is a good idea, especially given the lack of existing park space in west Lawrence, and the volume of apartment complexes being built. Since 2015, the city has issued building permits for more than 2,000 apartment units, with many of those projects in west Lawrence. From a quality of life perspective, it’s important for residents of apartment complexes to have easy access to nearby parks.

“We see a need for a developed park in this area,” Director of Parks and Recreation Derek Rogers said. “There’s been a lot of multifamily residential housing that’s developed rather densely in the last few years in this area.”

There are several trails throughout the city of Lawrence but nothing like the fitness integration trail that is planned. Rogers said the fitness integration trail is just an idea at this point and that ultimately, the Parks and Recreation staff will hold a forum to take input from the community before finalizing plans for the new park.

No timetable has been set yet for when the park would be opened.

Parks can be easy to overlook in the planning process. The park planned for northwest Lawrence — including the fitness integration trail — is needed and will benefit the residents of this growing part of the city.