Joplin city council moving forward with plan to demolish Memorial Hall, build veterans park

During a work session Monday night, the Joplin City Council voted to direct city staff to devise a plan to demolish the decaying Memorial Hall and construct a veterans park on the site.

The nearly 100-year-old building has been in disrepair in recent years and citizens in 2022 voted down a bond issue that would have funded more than $30 million in renovations and expansions.

Joplin Mayor Keenan Cortez says the decision does not come lightly but that its time to do something now.

8 of the 9 council members chose option two.

City manager Nick Edwards says demolition costs could be around $5 million.

Click here or scroll down to watch the entire meeting and listen to the whole conversation council members had.