Salina Considers $2 Million Bill Burke Park Parking Expansion

The City of Salina has identified a potential $2 million parking expansion at Bill Burke Park, but the project remains preliminary and has no identified funding source.

The proposal is included in the city’s 2027 capital presentation under “Projects for Further Review.” The city says projects in that category have been identified as possible needs but may not yet have a clearly defined scope, final cost estimate or financing plan.

According to the presentation, the project would involve constructing an enclosed stormwater system to allow additional parking areas near the park’s ballfields to be paved.

The city says the project is intended to expand parking while improving the appearance, functionality and safety of the area.

The estimated cost is $2 million, and the funding source is listed as unknown.

The presentation does not specify how many additional parking spaces would be created or identify exactly where the new paved areas would be located.

It also does not state:

 Whether the $2 million includes design costs.

  Whether drainage work would account for most of the expense.

  Whether the project would be completed in phases .

 Whether tournament or event demand is driving the proposal.

  Whether outside grants or partnerships could help pay for construction.

  Whether the city would use sales tax, property-tax-supported debt or another funding source.

The parking proposal is separate from another Bill Burke-related project in the city’s recommended 2027 capital plan.

That separate project calls for $1.5 million in repairs to the riverbank at Bill Burke Park, funded through property-tax-supported bonds with anticipated FEMA reimbursement.

The two projects should not be combined when discussing their costs. The riverbank repair is included in the recommended capital plan, while the $2 million parking expansion remains only a project for further review.

That distinction matters because, despite sharing the same park, the city currently treats them as separate projects with different funding statuses.