Municipal Facilities Focus Group hosts open house to debut city hall, community center plans

 The citizen-led focus group charged with creating priorities and plans for the city's municipal facilities had the opportunity to debut renderings and plans to the public at an open house on February 4th at the Grain Valley Police Department. 

Voters will be asked to approve a $24.6 million bond issue on the April 2025 ballot to fund construction of a new city hall and community center building on the site of the old Sni-A-Bar Farm on south Buckner Tarsney Road, just south of the new Mid-Continent Public Library. The new facilities would replace existing facilities built in the early 2000s and located just south of I-70. As explained in a frequently asked questions flyer provided at the open house, the focus group was very interested in the viability of building at other possible locations or staying at the current location. City officials indicated that the former Sni-A-Bar Farm is the only city-owned property in Grain Valley that could accommodate the scope of these facilities.

The facilities are planned to accommodate future population growth and are designed for expansion as needed. Based on current growth rates, the city anticipates the population to grow to 36,000 in the next 20 years. 160 parking spaces are initially planned for the campus, with additional areas that could be paved to add additional permanent parking as needed. The $24.6 million bond would not raise taxes and would be serviced by existing revenue streams. 

The citizen focus group has recommended the city prioritize the community center and city hall first, and seek to complete a new aquatic center in 3-5 years. The proposed bond issue would allow for the completion of the city hall and community center. If funding if approved in April, each facility will take approximately two years to complete. 

Residents had the opportunity to view plans for a proposed city hall and community center during an open house at the Grain Valley Police Department on Tuesday, February 4th. Voters will decide on a $24.6 million bond to complete the buildings on the April 2025 municipal ballot. Photo credit: Grain Valley News staff