(KAIR)--Forward movement is made in the City of Atchison's plans for upgrades at the City's LFM Park.

That happened Monday, as the Atchison City Commission approved the hiring of a firm to provide design, and related services, for the upcoming improvements, following a presentation by the City's Public Works & Utilities Director Clinton McNemee.

Hired for that project is Snyder and Associates, at a cost of $68,000, with a change order authority of $2,500. That firm was one of two, narrowed from a field of five, selected by the City's Parks and Recreation Board, with the firm offering the low bid of $68,000. Snyder and Associates also provided the preliminary engineering report for the LFM upgrade project, allowing them to keep the price lower for the latest stage.

The hiring follows a series of steps made in advance of the improvement work, with the City, this past summer, informed that they had been selected to receive more than $414,000 dollars through the 2023 Community Development Block Grant program. Atchison- $414,380 will be matched by the City of Atchison, bringing the total to $828,760.
The award came after the completion of requirements to obtain eligibility for the funding, such as having an income survey conducted within the neighborhood of LFM Park and completion of the preliminary engineering report.

Proposed improvements at LFM Park include a zero-depth splash pad, picnic shelter improvements, play equipment, basketball court lighting, and parking/accessibility enhancements.

Work to make the improvements a reality is anticipated to occur next year.