On Friday, February 16, 2018, the City of Parkville and Platte County finalized the transfer of Platte Landing Park to the City. Platte Landing Park consists of approximately 131 acres of riverfront parkland west of English Landing Park. The City now owns about 200 acres of parkland along the Missouri River.
In May 2008, the area now known as Platte Landing Park was purchased by Platte County and in 2011 the City and the County entered into a memorandum of understanding. Since its approval, the City has been responsible for the day-to-day maintenance of the park and the County has been responsible for capital projects.
The driving force behind the City’s interest in acquiring Platte Landing Park was the 2016 Parks Master Plan that included baseball fields, multi-use fields and the United States Corps of Engineers Section 1135 Wetland Restoration Project. The wetlands project is the key element to the phasing of the Parks Master Plan and will help improve aesthetics, complement recreational features, augment the existing trail system, provide fill material for future sports fields and improve habitats for a variety of wildlife.
The City engaged in discussions with County officials concerning the transfer of ownership of the park to the City. Since the City has been committed to maintaining the park, City ownership will enable control of future decisions on park development, as well as park programming, without seeking approval from the County. In September 2017 the City adopted an ordinance approving the transfer.
The land transfer agreement called for the transfer of the park to the City in consideration of $1.00, with certain terms and conditions including the assignment of operation and maintenance obligations from previous state and federal grants, a payment from the County to the City for future long-term maintenance of the road and parking lot and a commitment to maintain the land as a public park. The City will now be responsible for ongoing maintenance, including the parking lot and road, and future capital projects.
Mayor Johnston said “The City appreciates the partnership with Platte County in the initial acquisition of Platte Landing Park, and now the transfer to the City. The park serves recreational needs for the community and we are excited about the prospects of further expanding recreational opportunities for our residents. The inclusion of Platte Landing Park with English Landing Park makes Parkville’s riverfront a regional recreation and open space attraction. The parks are community gems and we are really proud of them.”
For more information about the transfer contact City Administrator Joe Parente at (816) 741-7676.