County may incur $10 million in new debt for parks and rec

Shawnee County commissioners took no action Monday after discussing whether the county should incur $10 million in new debt to finance new construction in parks and recreation, including developing a proposed “Family Park” south of S.W. 21st and Urish Road.

Commission Chairman Bob Archer spoke in favor, saying southwest Shawnee County is currently a “parks and recreation desert.”

Commissioner Bill Riphahn suggested he could also support the move.

“You have to keep growing, or your city doesn’t grow,” he said.