Upgrades included in Quincy 6-year parks plan

QUINCY — New playground toys, more park benches and picnic areas in most Quincy parks, a new park on Sixth Avenue Northeast and new baseball and softball fields with lights are among the components of the city’s updated comprehensive parks, recreation and open space plan.

The plan has a timeline of projects covering about six years, but Quincy Parks and Recreation Director Russ Harrington said funding opportunities change and that will have an effect on the plan.

“Some things may change along the way,” he said. (Funding) is kind of moving dart board that we’re trying to hit right now.”

Quincy City Council members approved the completed plan at the July 16 meeting and also approved a request for proposals to design a walking trail that would go from one end of Quincy to the other.

“It’ll be from the west end of town to the east end of town, following the (irrigation) canal,” Harrington said.

That’s an example of the project list changing, he said. Quincy residents have been asking for a trail for a long time, he said, and the city is able to start design, although it wasn’t planned for this year.

Quincy Valley residents approved a proposal for a regional parks district last year, and money from that will be used to build and maintain an indoor recreation facility, called the Q-Plex, and a new Quincy Aquatic Center. But city officials have plans to make other improvements in both parks, and those must be paid for by the city.

The new aquatic center will require moving the existing softball field in East Park, Harrington said, and it turns out the softball field is the only lighted ballfield in Quincy.

The plan is to build both baseball and softball fields in Lauzier Park on 13th Avenue Southwest next to the Q-Plex facility. A full-size and two smaller soccer fields with lights are planned for the same park, Harrington said.

Quincy Public Works Director Carl Worley said the first phase of construction in Lauzier Park - aside from the Q-Plex, which is on a separate timeline - is the lighted softball field, a maintenance building and a new parking lot. The second phase will be the soccer fields, and the third phase the baseball field. The fourth phase will include a concession stand, playground and plaza with seating. Another baseball field will be added in the fifth phase.

City officials also plan to build irrigation systems in the park to use water reclaimed from Quincy-area data centers. The city is looking for funding.

“That’s just one of the keys to the (construction) puzzle,” Harrington said.

Money from the parks district project will be available in 2025; building design is scheduled for this year. The Q-Plex is one of the priorities in the six-year plan.

The building itself will be located behind the Quincy Innovation Academy, the Quincy School District alternative school. The baseball and soccer fields will be developed on city-owned property.

The aquatic center will stay in East Park, with a new parking lot to provide better access to the pool and the pump track. A new playground will be built in East Park, along with more covered seating areas and renovated bathrooms.

The plan’s top priority after the Q-Plex and the new aquatic center is developing a new park on Sixth Avenue Northeast near the Quincy Animal Shelter.

The new Sixth Avenue park would have a splash pad, playground toys and swings, a picnic shelter, paved paths, a bathroom and a half-court for basketball. It’s in the plan for 2025-26.

The overall plan includes replacing aging benches, garbage cans and playground toys in Quincy’s existing parks. Harrington said that’s something new for Quincy.

“We’re learning from what other towns are doing,” he said.

The park plan established a timeline for projects through 2030 and beyond since it’s designed for periodic updates over a 20-year time frame. More trees are planned for all the parks.

A city park adjoins the Quincy Valley Historical Society and Museum property, and it’s one of the parks on the list for new picnic shelters and additional playground toys.

Some of the playground toys in North Park do not fit current regulations and will be removed. A splash pad is planned along with updated toys and a shelter with seating. South Park is next to Pioneer Elementary School and includes a baseball field. One option would be to upgrade the ballfield; the second would be to transfer the parcel to the school district.

The Quincy Rotary Plaza is a city park, and its trees will be trimmed and the pavers along the sidewalk repaired. The crossing at Memorial Park would be upgraded, along with the benches, and the lawn would be extended.

A dog park is on the project list, but is not scheduled until 2030 or later.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.