Wyandotte County Parks & Recreation: Board of Commissioners (Sept. 9, 2026)

By Connye Griffin, Kansas City Documenter

These notes were produced through Kansas City Documenters, which trains and pays community members to take fact-checked notes at public meetings, strengthening transparency and accountability in local government.

Summary

• Parks & Recreation Director Angel Ferrara thanked Public Works community engagement officer Dave Reno for helping prepare fact sheets for distribution this month before the Nov. 3 election on a 3/8th-cent sales tax. If approved, the two departments would evenly share about $16 million in revenue. 
• The Aug. 19 thunderstorm damaged the city’s parks. Staff is cleaning up and assessing work to be completed.
• The UG has piloted the use of security cameras in Northrup Park.
• Garland Park will undergo repair work to mitigate methane gas buildup resulting from natural settling in the landfill below.
• See here for the full agenda packet.

Notes

Correspondence

• Environmental services director Jeff Miles updated the board about Public Works park projects expected to be completed by the end of September. He added that:
  • After a six-week free trial period, security cameras were removed from Northrup Park. Two other companies have offered a free 60-day demonstration period for their security cameras.
    • Commissioner Jane Winkler Philbrook asked whether the public works and parks departments could work together to obtain security cameras. Ferrara said that while the department found the pilot useful, it would rely on the sheriff’s office to determine if the cameras are beneficial for park security.

Old Business

• Sales Tax Initiative: The Nov. 3 ballot will include tax initiatives. Wyandotte County seeks a 1/4-cent sales tax to fund healthcare. The city seeks a 3/8-cent sales tax to fund public works and parks.
  • If passed, the city’s 3/8-cent tax would provide about $16 million to be evenly shared by the public works and parks departments.
  • Ferrara said parks’ share of $8 million would be about four times the amount the department currently receives.
  • Due to aging facilities and shrinking budgets, the city’s 50 parks need repairs, especially now that federal funding has decreased or ceased.
  • The departments will prepare fact sheets to educate the public about the two taxes and the need for the new sales tax.
  • Later in the meeting, when the matter of disseminating information came up again, Philbrook reminded staff that parks rank among the top three quality of life assets supported by the public.

New Business

• Garland Park Project: A PowerPoint presentation previewed a landfill gas management system improvements project scheduled to start in October at Garland Park. The PowerPoint will be posted to the Parks and Recreation Department website before construction starts. A video of the presentation to the parks board is here.
  • From 1972 to 1974, the Garland Park site was a landfill.
  • Enacted in 1976, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act authorized Environmental Protection Agency oversight of landfills. 
  • Over time, landfills settle and create space for pooling water. Condensation limits airflow and gases, including methane. Garland Park has been monitored according to federal law and now needs repairs and improvements.
  • Pipes that channel methane to an above-ground vent are damaged. Five underground spots need repair, 16 sites require no repair, and two sites may need future repairs.
  • The park will be closed when construction starts in October due to earth work and heavy equipment in use but not because methane poses a health hazard.
  • The work is expected to be completed and the park restored by the spring. Winter weather could delay completion. Neighborhoods near Garland Park will be advised.
  • Commissioner Andrea Generaux asked what else could be placed on the land and learned that gardens for edible plants were ill-advised due to soil contamination. Native plants are a good option for landscaping.

Staff Agenda

• Recreation manager Shaya Lockett told the board that 9,510 community members used the Parkwood Pool during the summer and 294 kids participated in the free Joe Delaney Learn to Swim Program. Fall sports are starting.
• Parks manager Vincent Billaci spoke of uprooted or severely damaged trees during the Aug. 18 and Aug. 19 storms. Trees also fell on dog park and tennis court fencing, which will need to be replaced. At least two new lightpoles are also needed. The Parks Department also has been asked to help the community at large with storm damage. The department has used gravel trucks to collect and move debris.
• In response to a question about people sleeping in park bathrooms at night, Billaci said the department does not have the staff to lock park bathrooms at night.
• Commissioners voiced support for the sales tax and what it could do for the Parks Department.

Observations & Follow-Up Questions

• How will the public receive the information about Garland Park?
• Will voters approve two new sales taxes in November?

If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@thebeacon.media with “Correction Request” in the subject line. Learn more about Documenters on our website.