ROYAL CITY — While it may take some time to develop, Royal City now has a plan to improve its city park. After a public hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 18, the Royal City Council approved the city’s Park and Recreation Plan. The Capital Improvements section of the plan allows the city to apply for grants, according to Shilo Christensen, finance director for the city.

The plan states that its overall goal “is to help enhance the quality of the city’s lifestyle by creating recreation and open spaces that can be used as leisure areas by both visitors and residents. Supporting this overall goal is the primary goal of creating attractive park and playground areas for recreation opportunities, while preserving natural and scenic areas in the community.”

Royal City’s existing Lions Park is approximately 2.14 acres and has picnic tables, barbecue facilities, a swing set and play structure, a basketball court, a restroom, and a park pavilion. The city has acquired approximately 5.45 acres of land adjacent to the current park for the purpose of developing the park further. Currently, the new land is undeveloped.

Starting in fall of 2018 and throughout 2019, the city of Royal City invited the community to provide feedback into possible locations for a new library, as well as new attractions for the park. The Park and Recreation Plan was created in response to those meetings. The plan includes provisions for a regulation-size soccer field, picnic areas, a splash pad and other amenities. The plan also includes new public toilets at the existing park pavilion and a paved alley between Camelia and Acacia streets.

City officials hope to put in many of the new capital improvements between 2021 and 2025. The cost for all of the proposed improvements is estimated to be around $3 million. The city will be seeking funds for the projects through grants, volunteers and public donations.

To learn more about the new Park and Recreation Plan, contact city hall at (509) 346-2263.