ROCK SPRINGS – Residents often hear how Bunning Park is one of the important gems in the downtown area and the city has showcased it with many events taking place at the park all summer long. The city is now looking at what can be done around the park to continue the upgrades.

Landmark Design was hired by the city to investigate the area around the park for options to include additional parking. They were also tasked to look at the property in a broad spectrum around the park. Things like property ownership, condition, fair market value and whether it was inhabited or abandoned were investigated. The investigation went up as far as J Street and K Street.

Right off the top, Landmark’s Jan Striffle quickly pointed out the area around the park was in the floodplain while the park itself was right in the floodway. This comes with severe restricts.

There is also mine subsidence in the area, Striffle said. She explained most has been mitigated but there is a portion which has not. The park itself has not been mitigated.

As for the structures and homes around the park, most are not up to code, are abandoned and inadequate.

“There is some potential, but they are in the floodplain,” Striffle said.

Landmark gave the city the reconstruction of the area in phases. The first phase would be the area directly around the park. The second phase would include areas further out. Striffle said one of the first things to do would be to change the names of Evans Street and J Street. It should be something that represents the park, like Bunning Way.

Phase 3 would be the areas around and including K Street and Phase 4 would be a smaller portion in the area of K and J Street.

In closing, Striffle said the plan would provide a lot more parking around the park. She also stressed the phases did not need to be done in order.

“If you have a specific owner who is willing to sell, jump on it,” she told the council.

Rock Springs Mayor Carl Demshar said that if they can find the money for the project, he is personally excited to get going on it. The cost given by Landmark is a little over $4 million. That is with fair market value on the property involved in the plan.

Demshar said they would like to have parking on the same level as the park for the elderly and handicapped. Overall, he said it is very near the downtown and the development would enhance the downtown experience.