Parks & Renovations: Improvements are being made to Meadowbrook and Taliaferro Parks

Prairie Village and Johnson County are currently leading a project on city-wide park improvements, renovating both Meadowbrook and Taliaferro by November and October, respectively.

The construction for Meadowbrook park includes a new picnic shelter, parking lot, restroom building and handicap-accessible playground, which costs a total of $2.1 million. Construction for these improvements began on November 1, 2021 — footings and foundations can already be seen on site.

Project Manager Jim Wilson believes that the Meadowbrook project will be completed weeks before its original contract completion date of November 11. The underground work, like the water, power and sewer connections have all been installed along with the foundations for the picnic shelter and restroom building.

The handicap-accessible playground is designed for people with different sensory and physical abilities, according to Principal Architect Brian Garvey of SFS Architecture.

“The playgrounds that are out there — both the one that exists today, along with the open space and Meadowbrook Hill and the future inclusive playground — are providing recreation opportunities for users of all ages and abilities,” Garvey said.

​In the past, Meadowbrook worked with SFS Architecture to design the existing Meadowbrook clubhouse, three shelters, grand pavilion and restroom building, using natural stone, angled columns and slanting rooflines to keep the park looking organic. 

The goal is to create the forest-like effect of looking through a tree line in their design, according to Garvey. These same elements will be utilized throughout the renovation of Meadowbrook.

“The idea with the structures was that they utilize materials that fit very well into their surroundings and didn’t look out of place and overly manmade,” Garvey said.

Wilson is excited for the community to experience the new improvements, especially after the increase in park visitors since the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s a great place to go,” Wilson said. “Kids love it. Adults love it. It’s a park that has a little bit of everything in it.”

Senior Emma Brown visits Meadowbrook Park frequently to walk her dog and play pickleball with her family and thinks the new renovations will make the park more accessible for those with disabilities.

“I’m sure [the new playground] will make a huge impact for those that can’t get around well on the [existing] playground,” Brown said.

Taliaferro Park is undergoing renovations on its picnic shelters and restroom. The park plan includes a replacement picnic shelter and updated restroom building. Construction on Taliaferro Park could start anytime between now and June, depending on the availability of materials.

According to Project Manager Melissa Prenger, the project will cost around $520,000. The contractor, Combes Construction, has been allotted four months to gather materials and 140 days to complete the project under Prenger’s supervision.

Taliaferro Park patrons are eager to have a restroom building instead of the current porta-potty, according to Prenger. She believes the new restroom will have a positive impact on families that visit the park, since it is so close to park amenities like the play set and green space. 

Sophomore Addison Jones, who lives nearby the park, agrees that the new restroom building is a much needed improvement to the unhygienic porta-potty.

“I think the restroom is a really good idea,” Jones said. “The porta-potty is so disgusting. I would always invite people over into our house to go to the restroom.”

Prairie Village residents voiced their opinion of the color and shape of the shelter and restroom through a QR code found at the park entrance. According to Prenger, residents were eager to share their opinions and do what they could to improve their park experience. 

“It’s small, but it packs a big punch,” Prenger said. “We’ve got a lot in this area.”