MANCHESTER, Mo. – A proposed early childhood center in Manchester, set to be built between Wren Hollow Elementary and Southwest Middle School, will no longer move forward at this location due to concerns raised by local residents.
The plan, approved by voters in November 2022 through Prop S, aimed to establish an early childhood center in the 63021 zip code. However, after receiving feedback from the community, the Parkway School District has decided to halt the project.
“We’ve heard no opposition to the concept of an early childhood center,” said Parkway Superintendent Dr. Keith Marty. “But we understand the concerns, especially regarding traffic congestion, and we acknowledge the validity of those concerns.”
Neighbors expressed worries about increased traffic in the area, prompting the district to conduct a traffic study, which confirmed these concerns. As a result, the district has decided not to proceed with the original plan for the center at this location.
“We will not build the facility as initially planned,” Marty explained. “However, we are committed to exploring both short-term solutions and longer-term plans to address the needs of early childhood education in the district.”
The $26 million project is now on hold, with funding also paused until an alternative plan or site is identified. Despite this setback, Marty reassured the community that the funds approved through the bond campaign will still be used for early childhood education in some form.
“The money from the bond campaign will be allocated to early childhood education, whether that means building a new facility or renovating existing ones,” Marty said. “This is in line with what voters supported in 2022.”
Looking ahead, the district plans to integrate early childhood education into its broader Parkway Facilities 2050 initiative, a long-term vision for district-wide development.
“We’ve been exploring ways to meet the needs of our students, from bond to bond,” said Marty. “But we now need to take a more comprehensive approach to serve all children across the district.”
Residents, like local parent Don Conine, are relieved by the decision. “We were concerned about the traffic impact, especially for the safety of our kids and the preservation of green spaces,” said Conine. “We’re very happy the Parkway School Board has made this decision.”
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