T-R FILE PHOTO
The local West End Park on North 13th Street. In the background is Futsal courts. Futsal resembles soccer, only played on a smaller area and with fewer players.

Approval for final design and construction services — a prelude to making major improvements to West End Park — is waiting in the wings.

The design may be approved at Monday night’s regular Marshalltown City Council meeting.

Bolton & Menk, Inc. (BMI) of Des Moines proposed to perform design, bidding and construction services for $65,000.

Additional sidewalks and storm-water collection through a rain garden could be in the park’s future.

Other improvements proposed are:

• Event lawn

• Shelter or performance structure

• Installation of boardwalk, walkways and paths

• Approximately 200 feet of creek bed stabilization.

In November, the city voted to borrow $425,000 for aforementioned improvements which will include any remaining insurance proceeds from 2018 tornado damage.

The insurance amount has not been determined.

The momentum to make improvements to West End started in June, when the council voted unanimously to use $13,000 from an insurance payment for a West End Park outdoor shelter destroyed in the tornado.

“We are supportive of this plan and will be working collaboratively with the city administrator, Parks and Recreation Director Geoff Hubbard and BMI,” 13th Street District Committee president Neil Dalal said.

The 13th Street District Committee has been aggressive in planning various events, such as live music and vendor fairs, and strongly supporting business development in recent years.

The park is on North 13th Street, and it has seen a spike in activity with new businesses on the street and the installation of Futsal courts.

At 4.9 acres West End is smaller than iconic Riverside Park and Anson Park. However, it has features not found elsewhere in the city.