Schroeder Park improvements should be a priority

Improvements in our community are always something for which its residents should strive. A facility that has needed upgrades for years is our ball field complex at Schroeder Park.
    While the park board was setting a direction for an entirely new ball field/soccer complex in the Cornerstone property, it appears now they are moving back to an upgrade of the Schroeder site.
    It’s time for the community and city officials to get behind it. I’d like to see the same excitement from our city officials for those improvements that I saw when a new skatepark was proposed, or when discussions started about development of City Square.
    Efforts to improve Schroeder started at least 10-12 years ago, maybe longer—that was well before the skatepark and City Square were even ideas.
    The 2021-22 city budget includes $500,000 for Schroeder Park which will cover a lot of the current budget for improvements there. Chase County Schools’ board of education was approached Tuesday to help with some of the financing, too, since its softball team plays its games at Schroeder.
    There likely will be some gaps in the funding even with potential funds from the school.
    The Schroeder Park complex easily draws the third most people to it during any given year next to our school activities and the Chase County Fair. Look at the upgrades the school and fairgrounds have received over the years.
    It’s time to put our priorities in order. Schroeder Park has some immediate issues—like several downed poles, lights and fences—that need addressed now for next year’s season.
    It’s time to get all of the upgrades started and finished, along with any additional financial support needed. Whether that is some city sales tax support (which has not been offered or requested), grants that can be used or other sources such as private and organization donations, the improvements at Schroeder should be a priority.
    New projects like City Square are nice, and its development is hoped to bring more events to that location. However, we have a 40-year-old facility that has been on the back burner for upgrades far too long.
    It appears the improvements are moving ahead and that’s a good thing. We need to take care of and upgrade Schroeder Park, a facility that is NOW bringing hundreds of people to its location locally and from out-of-town.
    Imperial has always cared about its facilities and appearance. It is our hope that continues at Schroeder Park.