The second phase of improvements is moving forward for one city of Mission park.
The Mission Planning Commission on Monday approved in a 7-to-0 vote a preliminary development plan for phase two of improvements at Mohawk Park, 6649 Lamar Ave. Chair Mike Lee and Commissioner Brian Schmid were absent.
This phase of the plan calls for a shared pickleball and basketball court, new playground equipment and a new 10-foot-wide walking trail. Mission completed phase one improvements in August, which brought a new shelter, restrooms and a parking lot.
A renewed special sales tax is paying for it
- When residents approved the 0.375% sales tax for parks and recreation in September 2022, city officials said those dollars would go toward major park improvements.
- Mohawk Park was at the top of that list, and the city completed phase one of improvements in August including a new shelter and parking lot.
- Phase two, which relied on the sales tax approval to fund it, will bring a half-court basketball court that doubles as a pickleball court.
- Additionally, phase two features new playground equipment and a widened, realigned trail that goes all the way around the park.
- It also features 12 parallel parking spots along Horton Street.
Pickleball noise, parallel parking are concerning for some
- Jean Patterson, a resident who lives across the street from Mohawk Park, encouraged the city to read national news — including two June New York Times and NPR articles — to see how pickleball noise impacts neighbors.
- “When pickleball became so popular and there was an initial rush to embed in residential areas, that led to circumstances that led to lawsuits, lots of problems between the city and local residents,” Patterson said.
- Resident Robert Ogren said the reimagined Mohawk Park is great and is sure to attract more people, but cautioned the city to consider traffic impacts.
- “I think a speed bump [along Horton Street] is relevant, I think it needs to be discussed and I’m afraid if we don’t discuss it, then there is going to be a problem,” Ogren said.
- City staff said a traffic study might be more beneficial after the project is completed, and the planning commission approved the Mohawk Park plan with additional native plants to act as a buffer around the pickleball court.
An inclusive playground is part of the package
- Last week, the Mission City Council unanimously approved a contract with Cunningham Recreation for inclusive playground equipment at Mohawk Park.
- Councilmember Hillary Thomas noted that the Mohawk Park improvements, including the equipment purchase, “is part of a multimillion dollar investment” in the parks system.
- Councilmember Lea Loudon said she thinks the inclusive play equipment puts “Mission on the map as a very inclusive, loving open city that really does think about all ages and all abilities.”
- Resident Andy Akright said he supports the equipment purchase and emphasized the need for a good, inclusive park in Mission.
- “If I want to take away some of my son’s energy, we will take him to Waterworks Park,” Akright said. “If I want to take him to a nice park, I will go to a different city. There are great parks around here — Wassmer Park in Prairie Village, the one at 95th and Nall — and those are inclusive playgrounds.”
Next steps:
- The city council is slated to consider approval of the preliminary development plan for phase two of Mohawk Park improvements on Wednesday, Nov. 15.
- Pending city council approval, construction can move forward. The city has yet to announce a construction timeline.
Go deeper: Mission’s Mohawk Park to undergo major upgrades – Here’s the timeline
