photo by: Contributed

A rendering of Eudora's proposed Pilla Park renovation and improvements project. The parks and recreation department is asking for feedback on the designs.

A historic park by City Hall in Eudora will undergo major renovations this year, with the parks and recreation director saying the project will “start from the bottom and make it brand new.”

Sally Pennington, director of parks and recreation in Eudora, told the Journal-World that Pilla Park is one of the city’s oldest parks.

“It’s been a priority for us for a long time to do some upgrades and renovation,” Pennington said. ” … We really want to focus on what the community wants people to see when they pull into Eudora, coming from that way.”

photo by: Contributed

A rendering of “Hammock Grove” in Pilla Park. The parks and recreation department is asking for feedback on the designs.

The Pilla Park renovation and improvement project will include the addition of sidewalks, upgraded playground equipment, a roofed pavilion or some kind of shaded structure, resurfaced parking, landscaping and a north-facing welcome sign at Sixth and Main streets.

Pennington said the goal is for the park to be a central and safe gathering point for kids and their families and others in the community. Additionally, she added that the department wants the park to be its own, have something for everyone and tell a piece of the city’s history.

“We want it to be unique to Eudora,” Pennington said. “So we’re hoping to have some elements that make sense and tell a little bit of Eudora’s history along the way, so we’re not sure what it looks like yet, but it could be a train piece. It could be water, not like actual water, but something like a canoe, kayak to show the Wakarusa River and how important that is to Eudora.”

photo by: Contributed

A rendering of a “flexible lawn” within Pilla Park. The parks and recreation department is asking for feedback on the designs.

In order to develop designs for the park, Pennington said the department has held opportunities for community engagement. The first event asked the community what they would like to see Pilla Park become, and that helped them put together early designs for the project.

Pennington said some of the improvements will also be centered on improving connectivity in the city.

“A lot of things will be (about) connectivity,” Pennington said. “And so sidewalks that will connect to Main Street and go all the way down, which is not there currently. There will be a new parking lot, which (will also be) overflow parking for City Hall and events that we have on Main Street.”

The total project cost is anticipated to be $948,225. The City of Eudora has been awarded $650,000 through the Community Development Block Grant program to support the Pilla Park project. The rest of the project – $298,225 – will be funded with the dedicated parks and recreation/Capital Improvement Plan sales tax.

photo by: Contributed

A rendering of the playground area of Pilla Park. The parks and recreation department is asking for feedback on the designs.

As the Parks and Recreation Department is nearing the completion of its Pilla Park redesign, they are asking for public feedback on the final concept.

Community members can complete a short survey to share the level of support and highlight the features they are most excited about as well as give any final input before implementation of the project begins.

The survey is available at https://tinyurl.com/4mkxzz44.

photo by: Contributed

A rendering of the improved parking space for Pilla Park. The parks and recreation department is asking for feedback on the designs.

Pennington said the next step for the project is to submit an engineering and site plan proposal to the Planning Commission in April. Then, the city will issue requests for proposals from construction companies and interested contractors for the project. Bids will be reviewed and one will be chosen and brought to the Eudora City Commission for consideration. Pennington said the hope is for construction to begin this summer.

“We have great parks,” Pennington said. “We have a great park system for a small town, but we want to focus on adding things that are inclusive and different than what we have in any other park (and) want it to be something everybody’s proud of.”

photo by: Contributed

A current picture of Pilla Park in Eudora before the renovation and improvements project.

photo by: Contributed

A current picture of Pilla Park in Eudora before the renovation and improvements project.