Salina Parks & Recreation Advisory Board Summary
Week of May 21, 2026
Jerry Ivey spray pad reopens with upgraded systems
Kenwood Cove sets May 26 opening date
Bill Burke playground opens with new ADA-compliant surface
Board fully funds communications board
Matson Field dugout upgrades delayed by engineering requirements
Pestinger Family Stadium nearing completion
LED lighting installed at Oakdale Park pickleball courts
Public works to repave Berkley Family Recreational Area runway
Municipal golf course reports highest April turnout in five years
Jerry Ivey spray pad reopens with upgraded systems
SALINA, Kan. — The Jerry Ivey spray pad is scheduled to open to the public on Saturday, May 23, following the completion of staff training and a significant system overhaul. The city replaced the previous erosion-feeder chlorination system, which used dry pucks, with a more efficient liquid chlorine system that eliminates confined space maintenance issues. While the surrounding grass area is currently seeded with fast-growing rye and will require fall maintenance to fully establish, city officials said the newly upgraded facility is a vast improvement over previous iterations.
Kenwood Cove sets May 26 opening date
SALINA, Kan. — The Kenwood Cove aquatic park is scheduled to host a soft opening for the summer season on Tuesday, May 26. Salina Parks and Recreation staff confirmed the opening date during the Salina Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting, noting that while the weather forecast doesn't project extreme heat, the facility will be ready for the community.
Bill Burke playground opens with new ADA-compliant surface
SALINA, Kan. — The Bill Burke playground is officially open for the season following the installation of new rubber mulch, which replaces the previous sand base. The sand removal brings the playground into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. While the opening was slightly delayed due to waiting for matching replacement parts from the manufacturer and an additional order of rubber mulch, the city also removed a ramp and installed a new curb to finalize the accessible play space just in time for the start of ball season.
Board fully funds communications board
SALINA, Kan. — The Salina Parks and Recreation Advisory Board has fully funded a new communications board, an inclusivity tool designed to help non-verbal children and individuals with disabilities communicate while at the playground. The sign-style board will be installed parallel to the sidewalk leading up to the playground, anchored by concrete posts, ensuring easy, Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant access for all park visitors.
Matson Field dugout upgrades delayed by engineering requirements
SALINA, Kan. — Matson Field is currently utilizing temporary dugouts constructed from modified soccer goals to get through the spring baseball season after the permanent dugout project faced delays. The structural engineer required for the original dugout design called for prefabricated steel, adding several weeks to the timeline. In addition to the temporary dugouts, the Salina Parks and Recreation Department has also ordered a replacement scoreboard for the field, and permanent dugout construction will resume once the season concludes.
Pestinger Family Stadium nearing completion
SALINA, Kan. — Construction and upgrades in partnership with Salina Baseball Enterprises at Pestinger Family Stadium are nearly complete. The city recently finished electrical improvements and installed a new public address system in the stadium's press box. The final piece of the project is the installation of a 45-foot flagpole that will display the U.S. flag for both Pestinger Family Stadium and the adjacent Dean Evans Stadium.
LED lighting installed at Oakdale Park pickleball courts
SALINA, Kan. — The city has installed new LED lighting fixtures at the Oakdale Park pickleball courts following an unexpected electrical issue during a recent upgrade. While pouring concrete pads for new bleacher seating on the south end of the courts, crews struck the existing power lines for the court lights, requiring them to reroute the power. Because the rerouted lines carried lower amps and voltage, the city opted to move forward with upgrading the fixtures to energy-efficient LEDs, which require less power.
Public works to repave Berkley Family Recreational Area runway
SALINA, Kan. — The Salina Public Works Department is preparing to resurface portions of the Berkley Family Recreational Area later this year. Crews will mill down the existing deteriorating concrete on the wings of the runway between Dean Evans Stadium and Barkley Dog Park, replacing it with fresh asphalt. This follows recent public works efforts to pave the concrete drives through Oakdale Park, the city's main destination park.
Municipal golf course reports highest April turnout in five years
SALINA, Kan. — The Salina Municipal Golf Course recorded 3,773 rounds of golf played during the month of April. Salina Parks and Recreation staff reported to the Salina Parks and Recreation Advisory Board that this marks the highest number of rounds played at the facility during the month of April in the past five years.
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