Cameron Montemayor
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — One of the largest improvement projects in the history of Krug Park officially kicked off today, the start of a long-awaited renaissance for the jewel of north St. Joseph.
Many longtime residents and park supporters were in attendance for the occasion. The roughly 123-year-old park, one of the oldest in the city, will undergo wide-ranging upgrades and a variety of new additions, allowing for greater park access and the ability to accommodate a host of new events and community members.
“We’ve been talking about it now and planning and getting people’s input for two or three years. And today is day one on site actually getting started,” St. Joseph Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Atkins said. “Those (construction) guys, they’ve been itching to get going.”
Traffic through the park will be restricted at times, and some areas will be closed during construction to keep crews and members of the public safe. Signs will be strategically placed throughout the park to inform visitors when certain areas will be closed as construction rolls along.
The $11.7 million parks tax-funded project is set to be completed in the fall of 2027 and will see improvements to nearly every area of the park.
“That’s one of the big goals of this whole project is to provide access everywhere we possibly can. We’re going to open a lot of the park up to areas where people haven’t been able to get to while we’re doing the renovation work at the same time,” Atkins said.
Phase 1, a yearlong process, will focus on renovations to the bowl/amphitheater area, utility improvements, a new lagoon loop and construction of a new concession stand to service events by the amphitheater.
“Right now there’s a sidewalk that comes up the south side of the lagoon from the lagoon parking lot up to the bowl area. When they’re done, there will be one on the north side of the walk of the lagoon as well. You’ll be able to walk totally around the lagoon on a paved trail,” Atkins said.
Construction crews were on scene early Monday morning removing the green seating and demolishing the stage in the bowl/amphitheater area in advance of larger renovations.
As part of phase 1, replacement of the current amphitheater stage will create a new “Green Amphitheater†that connects with the lagoon for a better open view. The area will allow for a variety of community events and seasonal concerts. The rose garden will also receive a facelift to highlight the gazebo.
Once phase 2 is complete in November 2026, the castle and children’s circus area will become the Garden Theater and Concessionaire’s Castle, complete with a dining terrace and kitchen on the first floor, as well as new family restrooms. The Garden Theater will become Krug Park’s primary entertainment venue, serving a variety of events.
Atkins said castle renovations will finish plans that began more than a century ago.
“There are some of the plans that were original 102 years ago. We’re going to bring them to life, a valet parking system type thing,” Atkins said. “The upper portion of the castle is going to become kind of a green room at times, if you want to call it, for performers that will be using the children’s circus area, that will become the main venue of the park.”
According to the Krug Park project’s website, the castle restrooms will be restored and expanded, and the façade of natural stone walls and surfaces will be addressed.
Many of the park’s new features will harken back to the old days of the historic park, a result of considerable community feedback, including new glider swings and large slides in the new Buffalo Bowl Adventure Playground in Phase 3.
Central high school senior Evalee Zip was at the park Monday as construction kicked off and was thrilled to hear about what’s in story for one of her favorite parks for fishing and trail walking.
“I think it’s good news, to be honest. This place is obviously used by a lot of people,” she said. “I think they’re gonna pretty proud to see what the money is going towards.”
During construction, some features, including the fountain and waterfall at the Krug Park lagoon, will not be in service during construction.
Phase 4 of the project, which is slated to begin in September, includes upgrading the park’s entryway with a new walking path and improved connections to the Parkway.
A number of trees will also have to be removed during the project, which will be later replanted. The city has been sensitive to the issue by conducting bat surveys to ensure no harm is caused to wildlife species or the park’s ecology.
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