By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
As plans to make improvements to the south side of Brit Spaugh Park fell through due to pricing, the Great Bend Recreation Commission reassigned funds pledged to the project. The Great Bend Rec allocated $340,000 for playground equipment to the Brit Spaugh project that also included an outdoor basketball court, pickleball courts and mini soccer pitches.
RELATED STORY: GB Rec reallocates funds for tabled Brit Spaugh Park project
Great Bend Rec Marketing Director Megan Hammeke said a reoccurring suggestion is to create a nice outdoor basketball court.
"We just did the 2025 survey to tell us what you want," said Hammeke. "In comments of what project you would like to see, an outdoor basketball court comes up every time that it's a need in the community."
The playground/park to the east of Eisenhower Elementary School is half owned by the school district and half owned by the City of Great Bend.
Great Bend Rec Executive Director Chris Umphres said the plan is to place the full basketball court at Eisenhower.
"That little pad there now at Eisenhower would stay as a youth area," said Umphres. "The bigger area would be for the adults. It's one of the areas that is not fenced in. The public can get to it. It's a centrally located area."
Umphres expected to get bids and renderings of the project to bring it back for the GBRC Board’s approval.