Salina, Kansas

Jerry Ivey Memorial Park Pond Improvements

Welcome to the Jerry Ivey Memorial Park Pond Improvements project website. Below, you will find information about the project, options and costs, and a survey to submit feedback.

Page Last Updated: August 9,2021

Project Background

Jerry Ivey Memorial Park is located at 2464 Edward, and is home to the park's pond. The park also offers a variety of other amenities including a basketball court, biking/jogging path, a gazebo, grills, performing stage, dry playground and water playground, sand volleyball, soccer fields, and tennis courts. Jerry Ivey Park is a popular destination for passive recreation and leisure, along with weddings, reunions, and parties

In the center of the park is Jerry Ivey Memorial Park Pond, which includes a water feature, surrounding path, and views from the gazebo and pier. The pond is 25 years old and is in need of repair, replacement, or removal. It is experiencing the following:

Deteriorating perimeter and surrounding walls
Sidewalk settling
A large geese population
Debris trapped on the surface
Poor water quality and algae growth
An old and weathered wood pier
An inactive adjacent waterfall feature
Overgrown plantings and landscape

The poor water quality and algae growth are believed to be caused by several factors. There is a lack of fresh water naturally flowing to the pond, requiring that the bulk of the water be supplied from a well to maintain water levels. Additionally, shallow depths with sunlight exposure and warm water temperatures, along with the geese population occupying the pond, contribute to discoloration and algae growth. There is a lack of screening or collecting of debris which contributes to the accumulation of debris on the surface of the water.

In 2018 the City of Salina conducted a Parks and Rec Masterplan to study existing offerings and determine priorities for future growth and improvement. From this study, Jerry Ivey Memorial Park ranked number 9 out of 187 for projects to be addressed.

Existing Jerry Ivey Pond

Poor Water Quality - Algae Growth

Debris Trapped on Surface

Large Geese Population

Wood Pier Old and Weathered

The Adjacent Waterfall Feature is Deteriorating

Perimeter Wall Deteriorating

Surrounding Wall Deteriorating & Sidewalk Settling

Overgrown Plantings and Landscape

Pond Water Feature

Gazebo

Jerry Ivey Memorial Park Pond Concepts

The proposed concept is shown in the image below.

To address the ongoing challenges with the pond, consultants at Waters Edge and Landworks Studio developed five (5) concepts ranging in size, cost and functionality.

Please scroll through the concepts below for a summary of each and associated project costs.

Concept A - focus on restoring the pond, adjacent waterfall feature, water quality, walls, and sidewalk. "Reconstruct what you have." Estimated Project Cost: $915,000
Concept B - remove the pond and repurpose into open green space. Estimated Project Cost: $530,000
Concept C - remove the pond and repurpose into a plaza area with enhanced park features throughout. Estimated Project Cost: $970,000
Concept D - reduce the overall pond size and repair adjacent waterfall feature. Remove the gazebo and add a plaza area with arbor structure and in-ground sprays. Estimated Project Cost: $1.5 Million
Concept E - substantially reduce the overall pond size, repair adjacent waterfall feature, and keep the gazebo. Estimated Project Cost: $625,000

We want to hear from you about which concept(s) and ideas are preferred. Please submit your feedback by taking the survey in the following section.

Concept Options

Concept A: This park concept focuses on restoring the pond and adjacent waterfall feature in the park. Improved water quality would be achieved with additional treatment systems. The perimeter wall and surrounding sidewalks would be replaced to ensure a safe and clean park amenity. Estimated Project Cost: $915,000

Concept B: This park concept removes the pond by filling it in and seeding the area. The addition of this open lawn offers a flexible space for picnics, lawn games, kite flying and other passive and recreational uses. Estimated Project Cost: $530,000

Concept C: This park concept removes the pond completely, providing plaza space on either side of the open lawn space. Open space offers alternative play and seating within the park as those young at heart can run and play field games all year round. The plaza space becomes the terminus of a divided pedestrian walkway connecting the Jerry Ivey Memorial with a collection of in-ground sprays, benches, and landscaping. The in-ground sprays could be lit for a night show or programmed for interactive fun. In this concept, the Compassionate Friend’s Memorial marker is moved to one of the central planting areas between the parking lot and the plaza space. The existing natural waterfall feature remains, with improvements, but instead of ending at the pond, it falls into a catch basin and recirculates. The gazebo remains in this concept. Estimated Project Cost: $970,000

Concept D: This park concept removes the gazebo and replaces the covered feature with a curved arbor structure and fountain plaza. The backdrop for this beautiful plaza becomes the fountain feature in the pond. This plaza serves as the wedding venue and place for photographs and selfies. In addition, seating, ornamental trees, and in-ground sprays add another program element for the park. The in-ground sprays could be lit for a night show or programmed for interactive fun. This concept keeps a portion of the pond but reduces its size substantially. The existing water feature remains with improvements, as well as feeding into the pond and recirculating. Estimated Project Cost: $1.5 Million

Concept E: This park concept keeps a portion of the pond but reduces its size substantially. The existing adjacent waterfall feature remains with improvements, as well as feeding into the pond and recirculating. Open space offers alternative play and seating within the park as those young at heart run and play field games all year round. Estimated Project Cost: $625,000

Provide your Feedback

Please provide your thoughts on the pond improvements by completing the survey below.

Survey

Please click the green button below to enter the survey.

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