Public Meeting set to discuss first phase of Dover Outdoor Recreation Area
The City of Joplin invites the public to view conceptual plans for the new Dover Outdoor Recreation Area (DORA) planned for the north side of Joplin during a Public Meeting on Thursday, June 6.
The meeting will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Joplin History and Mineral Museum, 504 S. Schifferdecker Avenue.
This park development of nearly 100 acres located south of Zora Avenue and east of Lone Elm Road will offer biking activities for all ages and skill levels. Joplin Parks and Recreation staff, along with other City staff members and community stakeholders, have been meeting with SWT Design from Kansas City, the consultant for this project, to gather ideas and input on the design and features of this recreational park.
Plans include bicycle-related amenities such as a BMX-style pump track, a children’s bike playground, and single-track mountain bike trails throughout. The park will also include restrooms, lighting, and areas for community events. SWT has also teamed with the International Mountain Bike Association (“IMBA”) for the design of this park.
“With the topography and location of this park, we’ve looked at the best use of the natural features it offers,” said Paul Bloomberg, Parks and Recreation Director. “There are some exciting elements that this park will have because of the natural environment we are planning to utilize in the design.”
Citizens can view renderings of initial plans and provide their input about this new park’s features and layout. This informal public meeting provides a come-and-go format for the public to view informational displays, visit with City staff about the park and ask questions about the project.
If you are unable to attend the meeting and would like to discuss the project, please contact Paul Bloomberg at 417-624-0820, ext. 1504, or email pbloomberg@joplinmo.org .
In April 2023, Missouri Governor Mike Parson announced that the Dover Outdoor Recreation Area would receive $1.437 million through the Local Tourism Asset Development Grant Program. Funded through the American Rescue Plan Act, Parson included 26 communities in this effort to bring recovery assistance to Missouri’s tourism, travel, and hospitality industries.
DORA was initially introduced to voters as a project within the Parks and Stormwater Sales Tax Renewal efforts in August 2021. The grant funding will offset some of the costs, and the City will provide a match of approximately $1.7 million.
This project also allows improvements to undeveloped land, restoring some of the landscape back to prairie while adding a parking lot, a shelter, and a restroom within the park. West Soccer Field Road will be improved as an entrance into DORA.
Funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), this program is focused on investing in communities that rely on tourism, travel and hospitality for continued economic growth. The City is one of 26 grants awarded by the Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED) through their Local Tourism Asset Development Program. The Local Tourism Asset Development Grant Program was launched in October 2022. The program awarded competitive grants to applicants, including destination marketing organizations (DMOs), convention and visitors bureaus, municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and chambers of commerce affected by the pandemic. Grant awards will fund a variety of projects, such as welcome and recreation centers, property renovations, museum expansions, park improvements, indoor and outdoor attraction development, and more.