Proposed Joplin master planners developing Taj Mahal of prairie dog towns

Wallace Bajjalli, the Sugar Land, Texas, firm the Joplin City Council is expected to hire as the master planner for its tornado recovery efforts, is in the midst of another major project in Amarillo, Texas- developing the "Taj Mahal of prairie dog towns."

Saturday's edition of the Amarillo Globe-News gives an account of the project, which involves creating a 168-acre downtown complex, tentatively called "Panhandle Pete's Premiere Prairie Dog Town."

“To call this simply a prairie dog town,” said Amarillo Mayor Paul Harpole, “is to call Disneyland simply an amusement park. We certainly want public feedback on this, but once they see our vision for the future, they will see we’re looking at the Taj Mahal of prairie dog towns, and we couldn’t be more excited.”

Wallace Bajjali CEO David Wallace, who will be in Joplin for Monday night's City Council meeting was quoted as follows:

“Research has shown over and over that people, be it locals or tourists, have an affinity for a lively, progressive prairie dog town,” said David Wallace, CEO of Wallace Bajjali. “It’s family-oriented. It’s educational, and frankly, the critters are so darn cute.”