The Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Division of State Parks has awarded the City of Joplin an Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) grant to help fund renovations at Parr Hill Park, located near 18th Street and Michigan Avenue.
The park’s renovation has a total budget of $968,460.00, of which 50% will be provided by the grant. The remainder will be funded through in-house labor forces and equipment, as well as Parks Stormwater Sales Tax funds.
“Parr Hill Park is centrally located and serves many in our community,” said Parks and Recreation Director Paul Bloomberg. “This grant will allow the City to expand our sales tax dollars to make additional renovations to this popular Joplin park.”
This improvement project will include:
- replacing two existing playground structures with all-inclusive playground structures.
- installing pour-in-play surfacing at a third existing playground structure.
- replacing existing outdoor fitness equipment by installing stationary outdoor fitness equipment along the Park Trail.
- erecting permanent outdoor games.
- adding accessible sidewalks to park amenities.
- adding an overlay to the existing basketball court to convert to a multi-use court.
“Many walkers and joggers of the neighborhood and area come to Parr Hill Park because it offers unique amenities. Now they’ll have even more options with seven new outdoor fitness equipment stations on the existing trail to extend their experience,” said Bloomberg.
Park goers will also enjoy seven new permanent outdoor games being installed during the project. The conversion to a multi-use court will provide the opportunity to play various sports, such as basketball, tennis, and pickleball, in this area.
The renovation brings the first all-inclusive playground structures within the Joplin parks system. The project is expected to start in 2026 and be completed by the late summer of 2027.
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