On Tuesday, October 15, the Prairie Village Community Center Campus study project team hosted an in-person public meeting to share the preferred site location and design concept for a potential community center campus project.

You can view the presentation that was shared and then email feedback until October 20. 

Public meeting resources

→ First, click through the presentation from the third public meeting.

→ Then email your comments. Feedback submitted in response to the third Community Center Campus Study Meeting will be collected until 11:59 p.m. Sunday, October 20. Comments can be sent to communitycenter@pvkansas.com. The comments will then be shared as a group with the City Council, Johnson County Library, and the YMCA.

On Thursday, January 25, the Prairie Village Community Center Campus study project team hosted an in-person public meeting to share more about the study process and gather community feedback. Following the public meeting an online survey was open until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, February 9, 2024. The feedback form is now closed. Thank you for your participation.

Public meeting resources
Your input will help shape the future of a potential Community Center Campus.

→ Watch the project introduction video below.

You can also review the boards that were on display at the meeting. 

 

How did we get here?

The previous phases included two statistically valid community surveys, which indicated initial  support for a new community center and potential relocation of the Corinth Library. The most recent 2023 study (post-COVID), showed that 63 percent of Prairie Village residents “definitely would” or “probably would” use a new community center. This phase of the study includes site analysis and considerations, and is scheduled to conclude in summer of 2024. 

How is the YMCA of Greater Kansas City involved?

This study creates an opportunity to replace the aging Paul Henson Family YMCA with a new facility, 
operated and programmed by the YMCA. The study is considering the existing YMCA parcel, as well as sites closer to the existing amenities. 

How is Johnson County Library involved? 

Johnson County Library is part of this creative partnership as they consider alternatives for a new Corinth Library location. 

What amenities will these projects include?

A baseline of standard amenities is included in all new Y facilities and Library branches. You can see examples of these on the Community Center and Johnson County Library boards at the public meeting.

Will the Y operate the existing outdoor aquatic facility? 

Operations at the existing outdoor aquatic facility will be determined later in the site planning phase. 

How can the community participate in the process?

Your feedback is helping shape the future of a potential Community Center Campus! The first two public meetings solicited feedback from the community on amenities and site location/layout. You can see how that feedback was incorporated into the site configuration at he third public meeting on October 15.

Spread the word and share information with your neighbors, family and friends! 

How will this project be funded? What will a new Community Center cost to join?

The project is still in the study phase. Construction, maintenance, operations and membership costs of
a new Community Center will be determined later. 

• Anticipated costs for the Community Center are expected to be shared between the City and the 
  YMCA. The funding mechanism and percentage of cost sharing are yet to be determined. Once 
  this phase of the project is completed, the City Council would need to approve before the 
  concept would move forward to a public vote in Prairie Village.
• The Library Board of Directors has prioritized the building of a new facility to replace Corinth Library regardless of the outcome of this study, and the Library will fund the new branch through their Comprehensive Library Master Plan. 

What happens after this study phase? 

At the conclusion of this study, the three partnering entities will determine whether to move the project 
forward. Each entity will thoughtfully consider the outcomes of this phase prior to determining if it should move forward. A future step for the community center would be a public vote by Prairie Village residents.

Johnson County Library will fund the new branch through their Comprehensive Library Master Plan. 
Upon the recommendations from this study, the library board will vote to determine the next steps for the Corinth Library.

If you have any questions, please contact the project team by email at communitycenter@pvkansas.com. 

Community Center Feasibility Study

In November 2019, the City of Prairie Village, the YMCA of Greater Kansas City, and the Johnson County Library worked together on a market sustainability study related to the possibility of building a new community center in Prairie Village. If built, the facility would function as a community, aquatic, and wellness center operated by the YMCA and a new library branch operated by the Johnson County Library.

Wiese Research Group was hired to conduct the market sustainability study to gauge the community’s thoughts, preferences, and perceived value of constructing such a facility at Harmon Park. Wiese Research Group conducted a phone survey of 400 households in the potential service area. An online survey was also conducted. The link to the survey was sent to all Prairie Village households via a postcard delivered by USPS.

Update January 2020 - The results of the Community Center Survey will be discussed at a special meeting January 27 at Meadowbrook Clubhouse. The meeting agenda and survey results are available here. 

Update February 2020 - Wiese Research Group presented the survey findings during a public meeting held in January. While the overall results encompassed a geographic region beyond Prairie Village city limits, the study included 714 Prairie Village residents who completed the survey by phone or online. The results indicated preliminary interest in the project moving to the next planning phase. At the direction of the City Council, City staff is in process of creating an action plan to identify next steps for further Council consideration.

Update Spring 2022 - The Mayor reconvened the ad-hoc Community Center committee to consider the community center concept post pandemic, evaluate next steps, and make a recommendations to the City Council as it relates to the Community Center.

Update March 2023 - Wiese Research Group has completed a second research survey in consideration of the construction of a new community center in partnership between the City of Prairie Village and the YMCA of Greater Kansas City. Results of the survey will be presented to the Governing Body on April 17, 2023.  The community center would replace the existing YMCA facility and would potentially offer a full range of services. A market assessment was previously completed in December 2019 which revealed strong support of both a community center and the relocation of the Corinth Library to be in close proximity. The second study was commissioned to have a better pulse of community interest and support post COVID-19.  The results of the second survey indicated continued community support for the project. The Prairie Village Community Center and YMCA Market Sustainability Study Summary Report is available here.

Update July 2023 - The City has entered into the next phase of consideration of a new Community Center to replace the aging YMCA as well as partnering with the Library to consider relocation of the Corinth Library to the Civic Campus.  The City will share costs equally with the Library and YMCA in completing a community engagement and project design study.  The partnership will hire an architectural firm to facilitate public input, engagement, design concepts, facility needs, parking requirements, anticipated costs, etc.  We hope to have this phase completed by the end of the year to have a better vision of what could be possible in the future.

Ad-Hoc Committee Roster:
Chair: Ian Graves
Vice-Chair: Bonnie Limbird
City Council Rep: Dave Robinson             
Parks and Rec Committee: Randy Knight
Planning Commission: Melissa Brown
Citizen Appointment: Lauren Ozburn
Citizen Appointment: Jamie Senter

Agendas and Meeting Minutes:

March 30, 2022 Agenda	March 30, 2022 Minutes
May 19, 2022 Agenda	May 19, 2022 Minutes
November 14, 2022 Agenda	November 14, 2022 Minutes - TO BE APPROVED