SALINA, KS — July 2025
Significant upgrades are moving forward at Jerry Ivey Memorial Park, one of Salina’s most popular public recreation areas. Current plans include new ADA-accessible walkways, the addition of sand volleyball courts, and a redesigned splash pad to replace the former water feature that failed during spring 2024 preparations.
Volleyball Court Project Moving Forward
In May, the Salina City Commission unanimously approved funding for the construction of new sand volleyball courts at Jerry Ivey Park. The contract was awarded to Garibay Siteworks of Salina for an amount not to exceed $94,174.50. The approval was included in the consent agenda and passed without detailed discussion. While a timeline has not yet been announced, the move fulfills what Commissioner Bill Longbine described as a commitment to restoring recreational amenities at the park.
Splash Pad Redevelopment Still in Planning
Salina311 previously spoke with Jeff Hammond, director of Parks & Recreation, following community inquiries about the delayed splash pad project.
“The original project was a water feature and an update to the existing police officer memorial,” Hammond said. “The concepts for this project were shown to the City Commission in the fall of 2024.”
During spring 2024, underground plumbing issues were discovered at the Jerry Ivey splash pad, making it inoperable and requiring full replacement. Unlike the unaffected splash pads at Centennial Park and Hawthorne Park, Jerry Ivey’s issues forced a complete redesign.
“The direction provided was to integrate a new splash pad concept into the water feature and memorial projects,” Hammond said. “Additional direction was given to demolish the non-functioning splash pad and move forward with the new project.”
After completing the design, the city solicited bids—but only one proposal was received, and it significantly exceeded budget expectations.
“In January of this year, the governing body ultimately decided to reject the bid due to the higher-than-anticipated expense,” Hammond explained.
Parks and Recreation staff are now revisiting the project scope, evaluating the size, number of features, and comparative costs of splash pads in other communities. The department is preparing for a future presentation to the City Commission to determine next steps.
Next Steps: Parks Board to Review in July
This story is an update to previous coverage. The July Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting is scheduled to review ongoing projects, including updates on Jerry Ivey Park.
- Meeting Date/Time: Wednesday, July 16, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.
- Meeting Location: City-County Building, Room 107
Salina311 will continue to provide updates as the city moves forward with Phase 1 improvements and decisions surrounding the splash pad redesign.
