Ark Valley News - In time for spring

Neal Owings (right) helps an Evergy Green Team employee prepares a chainsaw to cut trees on the trail in Wetland Park last year. The west half of the trail was finished this month.

In time for spring
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: March 27, 2023

Just in time for spring, the City of Valley Center has completed a couple of projects to encourage the young and old to get outside and enjoy the weather.

The city installed concrete boards that form a cornhole game set in McLaughlin Park and finished the walking trail loop around the pond in Wetland Park.

The cornhole game replaced the outdated and underused horseshoe pit on the north side of the park's pair of basketball courts near the shelter.

Cornhole is a popular yard game that has players take turns throwing beanbags at an angled board with a hole in the far end.

The game set does not include the beanbags. The concrete boards are set in place.

The set was completed March 7.

In Wetland Park, which is just behind West Elementary School, asphalt millings were spread along the entire west half of the walking trail and roots and stumps were cleared, completing the path that started seven years ago.

"We're definitely excited about the trail," said Neal Owings, director of the city's parks department. "… That's been a long time in the making."

Wetland Park was given to the city in 1990. The park's primary purpose is drainage, retaining stormwater from the north side of the city.

The property was untouched for several years.

In 2016, two Boy Scouts used the park as their Eagle Scout service projects. One constructed the initial path on the east side of the park, while the other constructed an observation platform with built-in benches.

In early 2022, the Evergy Green Team cleared trees and brush to form the west half of the path. The city has been working the past year to better clear the path and spread asphalt millings.

Meanwhile, a third Boy Scout completed another Eagle Scout project in the park, creating an entrance off of Sheridan Avenue.

Later this spring, the Valley Center Recreation Commission plans to finish the two pickleball courts in Lions Park.