Jeffrey White Memorial Skatepark concept illustration ___________________________________________________________________________________
By Pauline Masson –
In the October 21 board of aldermen meeting — that was not posted on the city’s web site prior to the meeting and was not screened on YouTube — the board of aldermen (BOA) approved a request for proposal (RFP) to build the Jeffrey White Memorial Skatepark with the Noonan Pavilion attached as the entry to skatepark.
The small pavilion at the entrance to Birk Circle, named for Park developer Ick Noonan, is frequented by children’s parties on a first-come, first-serve basis with no previous reservations.
The meeting discussed here was also not recorded on video.
Due to lack of observing the discussions, all quotes in this report are from the minutes of the October 21 meeting, now posted on the city web site with the November 4 meeting agenda.
In a 5-0 unanimous vote aldermen approved a request for proposal (RFP) to construct the Jeffrey White Memorial Skatepark. Bid opening for the project is intended for November 18, 2025.
Rendering of Jeffrey White Memorial Skatepark with Noonan Pavilion incorporated into the skate park submitted with official request for proposal (RFP) to build thenpark. __________________________________________________________________________________________
Attached to the RFP are documents that show renderings of the entrance to skatepark coming out of the small gazebo. A slanted concrete pad, referred to as an apron in the RFP, appears to be a launch ramp for skaters to enter the bowl and other skate park elements.
Alderman Karla Stewart questioned the concrete apron all the way up to the gazebo.
“The gazebo is used for other things,” she said.
Mr. Runde, SWT, stated the concrete connects to the skatepark. If there is no concrete there, it will be mud and dirt. Alderman Tyler Hoven agreed.
“I we did not connect them, it would become muddy,” Mr. Hoven said.
Alderman Debbie Kelley said she thought the Parks Department would have to look at putting a railing up around the gazebo, so you could not exit out of the gazebo to the skatepark.
“There are private parties going on at the gazebo, and I thought it was not going to connect,” she said. “I thought it would be two separate places.” She also thought the citizens wanted the gazebo to remain separate.
Economic Development Director Tiffany Wilson said connecting the gazebo would allow for skatepark parties.
A proposed sidewalk that wraps around the gazebo would allow entrance to the skatepark without going through the gazebo.
Alderman Kelley said she wanted the community to understand they with the plan included in the RFP citizens would lose the gazebo
Alderman Hoven said every time the skatepark had been talked about by aldermen it was said the sidewalk was going to come out of the gazebo.
“We have seen this same rendition of it before. We didn’t approve it, but we have seen it,” he said. “We are getting down to a wire, we don’t need to get hung up on a sidewalk.”
Alderman Kelley said the aldermen needed to decide if the pavilion is part of the plan, just so the citizens know.
“We are very proud to get this skatepark,” she said. “We didn’t think we needed a big change and could move forward.”
Acting board president Lesh said all of this should have been worked out at a workshop meeting. He said he appreciates everyone’s frustration, and he saw a problem with taking the gazebo away for other purposes.
The RFP does not cover site prep and landscaping. Mr. Lesh asked if we knew who was doing that? Economic Development Director Wilson said Public Works Commissioner Brueggemann, and Parks Director Fowler had reviewed the plans.
“A lot of the ground work is going to be done in house by public works,” she said.
Mr. Brueggemann said at a previous meeting Mayor Filley had said she thought there were volunteers to do the site prep. We appreciate the volunteers that come together, but it does concern him.
“The volunteers have no warranty for their work, but we may need to have inspectors looking at the work,” he said. “Then if the work is not good enough, what do we do?
With Ward One having only one alderman, the RFQ was unanimously approved in a 5-0 vote.
Mayor Heather who was not present at the meeting provided notes on the meeting. She said she thought skaters and party attendees in the gazebo could share the pavilion.
“The pavilion has always been a first-come first-serve use. This will still hold true,” she said, “Hopefully the pavilion will see more use as people can sit and enjoy watching those utilizing the skatepark, as well as kids having birthday parties and having the skatepark as an option of an activity to do. The plan is to have other benches alongside the skatepark for utilization as well. As with anything, especially in our parks, common sense and common courtesy should be taken when having to share space.”
There should be some type of barrier around the pavilion to keep skaters from using tables in the pavilion as launching pads which would be dangerous to kids using the tables for picnics and parties.
Again, the more the BOA gets involved the worse things seem to get.
They are selling limited edition memorial skate boards for $ 200 to raise money for proper lighting, which was not in the scope of work in the Grant.
Debbie, Karla and Henry have some good points. Have you ever been to a skateboard park? It’s noisy. Sort of precludes the use of the gazebo for some quieter activities like lunch, or just a public place to meet and talk at the same time.
No issues with a skateboard course in the park, but yes, there will be some daredevils trying to incorporate the tables. Been to a number of them, with signage precisely forbidding behavior most non-skateboarders would never consider. And some fools will try anything…
As far as Mr. Brueggemann’s concerns about the use of volunteers: I’ve been a volunteer since 1986 with Missouri State Parks. Civic volunteers are almost always under the direct supervision of one employee, unless they have independent credentials — and their work is always reviewed by employees. The city needs to take advantage of the skills of our residents. My husband, with 38 years of state land stewardship (as the supervisor) has asked a number of times if he can help the city by doing exotic species removal in the parks–a responsibility that was his job for 17 years, and has been repeatedly turned down as being “unqualified.” He now drives 4 miles, and volunteers for Shaw Nature Reserve and they are happy to have him,
You mean to tell me we have no excavation and landscape contractors in this town who couldn’t supervise volunteer landscaping for the skate park, given the specifications? It may come as a shock to you, but the CCC wood and stone construction still standing 90 years later was done with crews of rank amateurs under the direction of an unemployed carpenter or stone mason. The Stream Team program, Operation Clean Stream and many other volunteer civic efforts to improve one’s surroundings seem to do quite fine with one “professional” directing squads of volunteers.
Pacific needs to look at this underused community resource, which might actually promote civic pride amongst our residents. It could be modeled on the state system for liability and oversight purposes. Imagine young people helping with the skatepark, being able to point to it with pride, and feeling an ownership in its upkeep and self-policing.
There is at least $ 120,000 dollars of site work that does not fall ‘ under the scope of work’ in the grant.
This includes engineering, inspections, grading and fill if needed. The fill , if needed, has to be checked for historicel artifacts by a certified inspector.
Drainage and run off has to be controlled to avoid site and down stream damage , needing lots of digging an right sizing of pipes.
This all cost big bucks beyond the grant which is a ‘ reimbursement’ grant.
All this has and build of actual ramps must be finished by September 2026 to meet grant paper work deadlines, not much time left ( 10 mo0nths) to bicker about every little idea.
THIS CITY COULDN’T BE ANY MORE CORRUPT AS EVIDENCED BY THE FACT WE HAVE ZERO DOCUMENTATION AS TO WHAT’S TRANSPIRED. ANYBODY HAVE THEIR PHONE?
THIS IS NOT LEADERSHIP. THIS IS HIDDEN AGENDAS, NO QUESTIONS ASKED.
HAS TO BE AGAINST THE LAW WHAT’S GOING ON IN THIS TOWN.
HOW MANY YRS HAS THE MAYOR REGURGITATED HER ‘ACCOMPLISHMENTS’ INCLUDING THE SKATE PARK AND 1ST ST?
LOL! 4 YRS? HOW MANY YRS OF FAILING BEFORE YOU ADMIT YOU’RE FAILURES WHO ACCOMPLISH NOTHING BUT RACKING UP MORE DEBT? HOW MUCH TIME AND $ HAS THE CITY WASTED ON THIS PROJECT OVER THE YRS, ACCOMPLISHING NOTHING?
NOW, THE CITY PROUDLY PROCLAIMS IT’S READY TO START?! LOL
YOU’RE KIDDING, RIGHT?
HAS NO ONE RUN LEGIT BUSINESSES ON THEIR OWN? HIRED, FIRED, BUDGETED, SCHEDULED, KEPT DEADLINES? BEEN LIABLE FOR ACTIONS?
THINK WE TRUST THE FOOLS THAT CAN’T EVEN BREAK GROUND IN 4+ YRS TO FINISH WITHIN BUDGET IN 1 YR?
IT’S AMATEUR HOUR IN PACIFIC.
IF ANYBODY CAN SCREW UP AND END UP WITH KIDS GETTING HURT AND/OR THE CITY PAYING OUT, IT’S THIS BOARD.