The Family Center, tentatively slated to open in spring 2013, will offer many of the same amenities as other family facilities. It will include a community room, gym with a walking/jogging track, cardio and weight training room, game room, child care room, aerobics room, café area and locker rooms.

   “This family center will be very similar to the Chesterfield Family Center … this is our third family center within the system,” said Jenny Edwards, public information administrator for the Springfield-Greene County Park Board. “They are all fairly similar in their offerings.”

   Senior Colton Lightner is in favor of the development. 

   “There aren’t really a lot of gyms close by to where I live and a lot of Glendale people live,” Lightner said. “It will be really convenient.”

   The Family Center is in Phase 1 right now. Phase 2 for the center includes an expansion for an aquatic center; however, that has been put on hold. Currently, there is no funding identified for Phase 2. 

   “Phase 1 is paid for out of a sales tax that was approved in 2006 by voters,” Edwards said. “That sales tax sunsets this year (one half sunsets, the other half goes to operations).”

   In addition to an aquatics expansion, the building is also designed to accommodate a gym expansion. The building is designed to meet LEED Silver Certification, meaning it is a highly energy efficient building.

   Since it opened last year, Dan Kinney Park has been a big success. The 18-acre area includes a unique playground, walking trail, picnic tables and pavilion area.

   “It has our local park system’s first universal designed playground, which means it is designed to accommodate kids with all sorts of developmental skill levels,” Edwards said. “There is playground equipment that will accommodate wheelchairs. It is more than just wheelchair friendly; it’s designed for all sorts of disabilities, as well as non-disabled kids.”

   Another feature of the park unique to that area is the Miracle League Ball Field, which is designed specifically for ball players with disabilities. It features a hard surface with bases that are built into the ground to allow for kids who use wheelchairs. The field is also made so children with visual impairment can play ball.

   “That’s the first in the area, and it’s really gotten a lot of attention,” Edwards said. “A lot of park groups and other types of groups that work with disabled kids have come to visit this and are studying how we did it, and then taking that information back to their own communities around the state and country.”

   The ball field was funded largely through donations. There will be league play, also, with adults and kids.

   Dan Kinney Park is also the first major park expansion east of Highway 65. The closest before was Sequiota, which was redeveloped last summer.

   “[Dan Kinney] is serving a larger and growing residential population in this part of Springfield and Greene County,” Edwards said. “We definitely think there is a need and demand for park facilities in this part of the community.”