Overland Park’s Maple Hills Park redesigned, more sustainable
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (KCTV) - The City of Overland Park will celebrate the rededication of the renovated Maple Hills Park on April 21 from noon to 2 p.m.
The 9.2-acre neighborhood park was originally established in the 1980s. The park still has the baseball field and walking trail, but now has new features blending play and sustainability, including:
- A solar-powered shelter and restroom, operating off-grid
- A new playground, being relocated to a shady spot based on feedback
- Two pickleball courts
- A new parking lot featuring solar EV charging stations
- Drought-tolerant landscaping
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“These improvements aren’t just about updating a park. They’re about redefining what a neighborhood park can be,” said Bryan Toben, Deputy Director of Overland Park Parks and Recreation. “Maple Hills Park sets a new standard for sustainable public spaces in Overland Park that can be both efficient and fun.”
The solar panels generate 100% of the energy needed to power the shelter and restrooms. This includes lighting, outlets, heating and water systems. The buildings are self-sustaining and require no connection to the electric grid.
In colder months, design elements will retain warmth and manage indoor temperatures and reduce energy use.
The charging stations in the parking lot will run on portable, solar-powered stalls that store and supply their renewable energy. Each stall fits in a parking space and functions independently, which supports the city’s growing commitment to alternative transportation.
The city used cross-laminated timber to build the new structures, a sustainable and low-maintenance material that reduces construction waste and provides strength, performance and energy efficiency.
Community input was an important factor in the redesign. It meets residents’ needs and earned a 2024 Design Excellence Award from the American Institute of Architects Kansas City.
More information can be found here.
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