By Aidan Bearden / Staff Writer 

Two years after purchasing 26 acres from the city of Marshall, Missouri Valley College is preparing to reveal its development plans for the property. According to the City of Marshall, the property was sold for $250,000 on Oct. 19, 2023. For the past two years, the land has been leased for agricultural use as a rotational corn and soybean field. However, Parisi and his Advisory Board feel they have a strong plan for the land that they’re ready to reveal soon.

According to Parisi, MVC was required to submit a development plan to the Marshall City Council before being selected to purchase the land.” Although Parisi didn’t have an immediate, complete plan for the property, he viewed the land as too good an opportunity to pass up.

“Having the opportunity [to purchase the land], you strike when the iron is hot,” Parisi said. “The land itself provides an expansion opportunity.” 

After being selected for the opportunity to purchase the land, Parisi and his advisory board soon began working on the proposal for the land. In this proposal, there were preliminary designs of an outdoor track, a baseball and softball complex, various retail stores, housing, and numerous other ideas to expand MVC for the benefit of students. 

“This is not a time where higher education schools are saying, ‘let’s grow,’” Parisi said. “But we have a great plan and we’re executing great things.”

Parisi said the plan is designed to benefit both MVC and the Marshall community. Parisi’s main thought for the land was a retail space, including various restaurants for students and citizens of Marshall. Parisi also expressed the idea of a turf field for youth athletic groups to have an area to practice. 

“I would see youth sports having a challenge with places to play and not enough space,” Parisi said. “So I saw what a great opportunity to build something that the college would use but that the community could also use.”

In the initial press release of MVC purchasing the 26 acres, Vince Lutterbie, then the Mayor of Marshall, said, “This is a first step toward Marshall’s new master plan, and we are including the plans of both Missouri Valley College and the Marshall Schools.” 

According to Parisi, news for the Gierenger property will be released in the next two weeks. 

Scott Queen, MVC’s Executive Director of Marketing and Communications, Associate Athletic Director, said, “[The news could be released] maybe even sooner.”

The upcoming announcement is expected to outline MVC’s next phase of campus growth.