The City of St. Marys has begun work on a master plan for two of its public parks, Riverside Park and The Flats Park. The project opened with a kickoff meeting and workshop on July 29, 2026, led by Landworks Studio, a landscape architecture and planning firm from Olathe. When the plan is finished it will include colored site plans for each park, perspective views of the proposed improvements, cost estimates, and an implementation plan that sets priorities and phasing so the City can build the work in fundable stages.

As a starting point, staff scored both properties on a standard 100-point assessment covering accessibility, connectivity, comfort and character, usability, and amenities. Riverside Park, a community park at 410 W. Lasley St., scored 71 (Good), with full marks for usability. The Flats Park, a neighborhood park at 209 N. 6th St., scored 68 (Fair). Accessibility was the weakest category at both parks, which points to sidewalks, signage, and lighting as likely subjects for the design work.
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Ideas already under discussion include replacing the playgrounds, pickleball and tennis renovations, a splash pad, reuse of the historic pool house, and new sidewalks and landscaping at both sites. None of these is funded or decided; they are starting points. Preliminary concepts will be drawn in August, final concepts and cost estimates in September, and the completed plan is scheduled for approval in October. A community open house will be held so residents can see the concepts and respond before anything is finalized, and the date will be announced once it is set. The kickoff agenda and the full handout packet, including park maps, inventories, and assessment detail, are attached below.

The Planning Commission meeting scheduled for Monday, July 20, 2026 has been canceled. It may be rescheduled for Monday, August 17, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. 

The city commission will have a work session at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, July 29, 2026 to discuss Riverside Park and the Flats Park. The meeting will begin at City Hall and may move to either or both of the parks.

Carisa L. McMullen, PLA of Landworks Studio will be in attendance at the meeting.

The city of St. Marys second quarter (2026) newsletter is linked below, as is a history of the city's armory building.