The City of Roeland Park is focused on a vision for a renewed Nall Park.

City staff is working on the first update to the Nall Park Master Plan in 17 years, and the Roeland Park City Council reviewed the status of that plan earlier this month.

Based on public feedback from workshops held in the spring, a new and improved Nall Park – located at the north end of Nall Avenue across from Johnson County’s Nelson Wastewater Treatment Plant – could feature renovated bike paths, an adventure playground, an arboretum and a dog park.

City staff told The Washington Post on Friday that the city’s parks committee expects to adopt the updated master plan at its September meeting.

Once the committee approves the plan, it will be presented to the City Council for final approval in September or October.

The updated plan provides for three zones for different activities

• According to the draft plan, Zone 1 would occupy most of the eastern part of the park and envisages upgrading existing bike paths and connecting them to the city’s community center in the southeast.
• Plans for zone two, where the current playground area is located, include an adventure playground with slides integrated into the existing landscape and an improved pavilion.
• Zone three covers the southwestern part of the park, where the plan calls for an arboretum and improved signage and connection points to Nall Avenue.
• The potential dog park would be located as far north as possible of where there is currently a 100-foot-wide Evergy easement for overhead power lines, said Greg Van Patten, a project manager with the engineering firm Lamp Rynearson.
• Van Patten said that means the dog park would be closed during the time if Evergy ever needed or wanted to do anything in that easement area.

Cost estimates are unclear

• City Manager Keith Moody told the City Council on August 5 that the city has set aside about $1 million for actual improvements at Nall Park.
• Van Patten told the city council he would not be able to provide a cost estimate at the August 5 meeting.
• Van Patten said the cost would depend largely on the type of playground equipment the city wants to see in the upgraded Nall Park.
• A cost estimate will be presented to the city council when an updated master plan for the park is presented to the governing body, Van Patten said.

Questions about the future of the roundabout and the dog park

Much of the City Council’s discussion regarding the master plan update revolved around the roundabout currently located at the northwest corner of the park and the creation of a dog park.

The plan currently calls for removing the roundabout and replacing it with “pump-ups,” or small hills where young cyclists can ride and practice their skills. (It’s a similar concept to a “traffic garden” created last year in another city park, R Park.)

Councillor Tom Madigan asked about the trees near the current roundabout, one of which is dedicated to him and his family.

Council member Matthew Lero said bike “pump-ups” can be tailored to a specific area and designed to wrap around existing trees or artwork.

Councilwoman Emily Hage suggested that if the roundabout were removed, the city would be more intentional about treating the road during winter weather, as it would be helpful for drivers trying to drive up the hill on Nall Avenue.

Several members of the governing body expressed concerns about a dog park in Nall Park. Van Patten said the dog park has generated interest from some citizens, but others are not fans of the idea.

Mayor Michael Poppa said he used to be a proponent of finding a spot for a dog park, but gave up on it because dog parks are “not the safest place.” Council member Kate Raglow said while she loves dog parks, she feels a dog park in Nall Park is inappropriate due to the lack of space.

Madigan said he has spoken to several veterinarians and all are against dog parks because of the risk of dogs contracting diseases or being bitten there.

Councilwoman Jennifer Hill suggested the city look into ways to eliminate potential viruses at a dog park.

Next Steps:

• The Parks and Trees Committee will consider adopting the plan on September 11.
• The City Council is expected to consider adopting an update to the master plan at one of its next meetings on September 16 or October 7.
• City Council meetings begin at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 4600 W. 51st St.

Go deeper: Watch the entire August 5 City Council discussion online here, starting at 1:17:30.