Park Place developers named its park after one of Johnson County’s community leaders who was instrumental in the development of the Johnson County Park and Recreation District, John Barkley.

“Since Park Place is located in the community, we wanted to pay tribute to a community leader, said Melanie Mann, co-developer of Park Place. “Barkley seemed the obvious choice because of his involvement with the Johnson County Parks District.”

Once open, activities at Barkley Square will encourage the community to gather all year long, through concerts, festivals and outdoor movies in the warm months and in the winter months it will convert to an ice rink.

Immediately adjacent to Barkley Square is the pavilion, which also is currently under construction. Composed of a steel cast, the structure was fabricated in and shipped from Italy. Once complete, the pavilion will stand approximately 12 feet tall and approximately 38 feet long.

“We chose the Italian design and cast steel material based upon how its decorative components will complement the residential and retail buildings and also because it’s incredibly durable in any type of weather,” said Mann. “Because this type of structure is not typical in the U.S., a specialized crew from Italy arrived last week to install the pavilion.” Opened year around, the pavilion will be used for skate rental, private parties, or a staging area.