Hey Mark. >> Good evening.
» Good evening. Welcome to the Parks and Rec Committee meeting. Today is August
5th. It is 5:30 p.m. If I could get a roll call, please,
Mindy. >> Mrs. Cooper.
» Here. >> Mrs. Crawford.
» Here. >> Mr. Long.
» Here. >> Three present, we have quorum.
» Good evening. Welcome to the Parks and Rec Committee meeting. Today is August
5th. It is 5:30 p.m. and I will call the names
Mrs. Mrs.
Here.
» I think so. I should check the audio. >> Okay. Okay, we'll try.
Yeah, it's recording and that's live. Um, technical difficulties. Moving on.
I'm looking for an approval of the minutes from the July 1st Parks meeting.
» I'll make a motion. >> I will second that motion.
If you get a roll call, please. Mrs. Crawford.
» Yes. >> Mrs. Cooper.
» Yes. >> Mr. Long.
Three A's, motion approved. Thank you. Are there any visitors that would like
to speak to the Parks and Rec Committee this evening?
» Well, we're going to have Aaron come up and do a presentation. We don't have any
visitors, but we do have an announcement of a new employee. So, let's do that.
» Yes. So, in the audience, uh, we have Adam Teach. He is the engineering
technician. Uh, his first day was on Monday. He comes to us from GSI, uh,
which is a a company that does, um, material testing, uh, but has a lot of
construction in his background. He's already been out to J.R. Smith Park. Um,
so he's aware of what's going on over at that, uh, $3.5 million project, um, as
well as a lot of the other construction that's going on. So, please, if you see
him out and about or if you have questions, his, uh,
email is No, I'm just kidding. Please feel free to reach out to him via
email. I'm happy to give his contact information. What's his title?
» Uh, engineering technician. >> Welcome to the family.
» Great. >> And then, did you want to move to Mr.
Nobler after >> he's
» Is he on the He's not on the agenda in a more specific He's going to do the
presentation on the Old Orchard Park. >> Oh, okay. Then we will just transition
right into unfinished business with Old Orchard Park. And then I would like to
invite Mr. Noblet up to the podium.
» Hello everybody. Thanks for having me. Um Aaron Noblet, consulting arborist
with the city. Um talking about potential management strategies for Old
Orchard Park. Um Let's go ahead and go to the next slide.
Uh just a comparison. Rosecrans Park on the
left here compared to Old Orchard. Rosecrans is my a my basically a mature
woods where you have, you know, just a mature
stand of oak, hickory, beech, maple. And there isn't much you have to do to
make it beautiful other than keep out the invasives, which we've been doing
over the last handful of years. Where Old Orchard is what
you would consider the early stages of forest succession where it was a Old
Orchard with some apple trees. Otherwise, I'm assuming it was just kind
of cleared land. And then it was just left unmanaged. So
what you get is this kind of explosion of growth that kind of just is real
thick and some people might say unsightly, but you
get a combination of beneficial native vegetation and exotic invasives that
don't belong there. Um so that's kind of a summary of just And And with time,
over decades and decades, with proper management, it will
eventually look more like Rosecrans and, you know, be more appealing and a
healthy forest. Um if that's the goal of the city. So I
guess go to the next slide. >> Can I ask a question on that slide
though? Is the majority of what I'm looking at at Old Orchard Park
trees or invasive other stuff? In those
» It's a combination. >> Okay.
» So you've got native trees and a and maybe some exotic invasives like calorie
pear. Luckily, not a lot of the flowering pear has moved in there.
More of the invasives being in the understory where you've got I'll get
into that a little bit. >> Okay.
» Um want to go to the next slide. So, what can we do to help speed up the
recovery? Um you know, just the the most basic thing
we can do if we're to you know, say we don't have a lot of resources to put
into this park or we just want to do you know, just the bare minimum it would
be kind of a routine annual or maybe two
times a year invasive species removal project
where we're removing the honeysuckle, privet, multiflora rose, poison hemlock,
flowering pear, and Japanese barberry. And I'm there's probably some in there
that I'm missing. Um so, getting those invasives out of
there so that they're the beneficial native vegetation can thrive. Cuz it
kind of chokes it out and if you leave it too long, it can be just you know,
get even worse and be harder harder to manage.
And then if there's openings to plant Ohio natives, you know, help that
process along where we can plant trees and shrubs and you know,
pollinator-friendly flowering plants as well
in the process. >> Is the removal of the invasive species
species something that our services team can do with your supervision?
» Yeah, I think so. Yeah, just identifying.
That's the biggest thing is making sure that we're not removing beneficial
plants. So, making sure that we're properly identifying it.
And it's not huge stuff. So, you can you can cut it and then very carefully treat
it with an herbicide like basically paint it on the stump. If we're able to
totally uproot it, then we don't have to use herbicides at all. But sometimes
that's not feasible if there's you know, plants are just too big.
» So, you're not talking about big machinery or
» Well, it depends. I'll get into that a little down the road if we it depends on
the the vision that the city has for it. But
for the majority of the park, I would say and I was kind of
I did quite a bit of investigating to figure out, okay, what's actually back
here? It may have looked like weeds, but there's a lot of
good stuff in there mixed in with stuff that we don't want in there. So, I think
for the majority of the park, I think kind of hand selectively removing the
invasives and leaving it natural and letting it go through that cycle of
forest succession. It's going to take a while, but
but if there's an opening into it later where if we wanted to have a heavier
hand managing an area, I've got some ideas for that, too. So.
» But, for step one, likely our services team could do the work with your
» Yeah. >> supervision and knowledge and
» Yeah. It'd be good to pick a I don't know. It'd be nice to do it
when the ticks aren't as active, you know, like early winter.
Um and just, you know, maybe
designate a few days to it and and just once a year go at it until we get it
under control. And unfortunately, you can't just say,
okay, we're done now. Then you have to be proactive. You just
got to you kind of get a feel for, okay, this likes to pop up here. But, once you
get the bulk of it done after those first several years,
» You can identify that stuff when it's cold out.
» Yeah. And then it's just kind of like proactive maintenance from there.
Um if we if we designate it, you know, year after year and then it's just kind
of like we it pops up and you're you're being more proactive than reactive.
So, if you want to go to the next slide.
Grapevine is another it's basically that's an apple tree. The
stone age consumed with grape vine. So, from an aesthetic, grape vine is native,
it's beneficial to wildlife, but in this case, it's just, you know, it's choking
out trees that we would want. It's choking out some of the wild apple
trees, but it's choking out black walnuts and hackberries and other trees
that we would want to release and so, I would say grapevine control would
be important at this stage. Um carefully, you know, cutting and
carefully treating the the the fresh cut stump with an herbicide.
Um that alone, getting the grapevine under control of invasives is going to
really, you know, from the aesthetics of the park, it won't look like as much of
the stuff of a rat's nest.
Um I'm going to go on to the next slide.
So like critical features in this park is Prairie Creek does run through it and
it also runs through Evening Street Park on the other side of Granville Street.
So like thinking of Prairie Creek uh as we want to preserve riparian
buffers on both sides of the creek, which would be a vegetated area that
acts as a filter. Uh so contamination, you know,
contaminants, pollutants that might be coming down into the creek can be up
taken up by the trees and you know, it it basically just acts like filtration
to protect the water quality of the creek.
So if you were to ask like Delaware County Soil and Water Conservation
District, they're going to say anywhere that you can have a riparian buffer, a
healthy riparian buffer along the creek is good, you know, because this creek
spills into Hoover Reservoir, which is the drinking water for
a bunch of municipalities south of us, so
just kind of being good stewards of the creek. Uh
so I would say within the park, definitely preserving
the forest with is adjacent to the creek as much as
possible and just focus on on on basics there.
Uh again, Delaware County Soil and Water is
that's kind of their bread and butter, what their goals are for protecting
water quality and their, you know, soil erosion, so they're really
up to speed on that. Um if you want to go to the next slide.
Um on the other side of Granville Street
where the library side, you know, I would like
to get there and Delaware County so on the water where you can see the grass
goes all the way up to the creek. We did plant a row of bald cypress and
some swamp white oaks there, but I know that they like to talk about creating no
mow zones where you allow vegetation to grow up of
course trying to get natives to take over and then they kind
of have it on a mowing rotation which creates a buffer
and then planting trees to create shade which will cool the water which the
hotter the water is and the water is more you're going to get a bacterial
growth and so considering maybe seeing what they would
say for maybe managing that side of the creek a little better so we're not
because I'm assuming they're maybe putting lawn chemicals straight up to
the edge there. Um
so that would be something to consider. We do have some really good trees
growing though so that's that's a good start but I know that they might be big
on no mow zones where you kind of create a meadow along the creek and then
allow trees or plant trees uh in combination.
Um and that could go in the NPDES report as being proactive. It could go under
the Tree City USA report that we're you know, we're creating right earning
buffers along Brandywine Creek. And basically any tree the city is
responsible for that's that's a good idea or frankly so on the water or
they'd be the ones to help out with that. Um
do you want to go to the next slide? Um
at the back of the park there's kind of a grassy meadow area. It's got a lot of
golden rod and wing stem and some other good stuff
but it also has poison hemlock which is a pretty nasty plant. Um
Jake last year did some the the service department did some
management of that but it pops up every year. So, within the meadow area at the
back of the park, we're really going after that poison hemlock. That's a
critical. The time to hit that is in March when it's about that high off the
ground and just spray it when it's when it's
low because it needs to be 8 to 10 ft tall and makes, you know, spraying
you're spraying everything else around. So,
and just a word on that, the property behind Old Orchard where the meadow is
that the HOA owns is just covered in poison hemlock. So, it'd be good to
maybe work in combination with them and see if they'd be interested in helping
manage it. Otherwise, the seeds are just going to keep falling over.
And then, um it is a pretty neat little meadow area though that'd be beneficial
for pollinators and wildlife. Um so, maybe figuring out
what's the best way to manage that. Is it should be mowed every 3 years? Could
we sprinkle other seeds in there to get, you know, more flowering plants going
that are native? Control invasives, you know, you can put
up bluebird boxes. So, there's a lot of things that could go on on the meadow
side at the back of the park. That's the massive pile of massive plant back
behind there for reference. So, it's it's kind of neat to have it
there. Um you know, cuz it is different than the
forested section of the park. Uh if you want to go to the next slide.
So, the old apple trees, you know, they're just
they're in rough shape. You know, they've they've a lot of them are half
dead or covered in grapevine. So, the idea of reviving them, I mean, I
would say the ones that are healthy enough to keep around, keep them around,
kind of prune out the dead. But, the idea that it will ever be a
functional orchard again, I mean, to grow apple trees is major maintenance
with pruning and treatments. They're really
susceptible to all kinds of fungal diseases. So,
you know, these places that are drawing quality apples, either whether they're
using an organic program or they're using synthetics, they're they're really
spraying and and controlling disease. So,
the I I would say it's nice to keep the old health apple trees that still have
some life life left to them, but in general, they're pretty dilapidated.
So, I think eventually just letting the the Ohio native forest trees take over
would be the ultimate goal in the long run.
And um >> So, that definitely wouldn't be your
recommendation to plant apple trees. >> Well, maybe in one section I'll get I'll
go to the next slide. >> Yeah, that's where I was going with
that. >> like
just to kind of honor the history of the park,
you know, around Johnny Appleseed, maybe some dwarf
disease-resistant apple trees would be cool. That I think that'd be a way to
kind of commemorate the history of the park,
but keeping it simple, you know, and and
that would be something manageable where they could be pruned and
and kept nice. Um
Apple trees in general are they're they're wild, you know, like it
you should see like Lenz's orchard. They're pruning those like constantly
even the way they look. So, that would be an idea.
Um do you want to go to the next slide?
And then something I'm almost finished here, but just
something to consider if we if we did want to have a more heavily managed area
of the park while it's going through that those stages of forest succession,
I thought it might be an idea to create like a natural play area where we would
be more aggressive with mowing down the overgrowth
um and
if there would be more like a focal point of the park and it could be a
place for, you know, benches for sitting or
um a big thing now that parks are doing is they're using like rocks and tree
stumps to create play spaces for kids. >> Mhm.
» So, boulders I would say only plant Ohio natives
except for the apple trees around Johnny. Um
you know, it could look really pretty and um I don't know if when I worked at
New Albany the developers would as they were digging they would stash
the boulders up on the side and the city would come pick them up and put them in
the park. >> Sure. That's a good idea.
» Which was and we and if I really want to go to the next slide.
So, this is in Rose Run Park in New Albany
an example of a play area like that. Uh and it's kind of this park Rose Run
was right along Rose Run Creek over by like between Market Street and
62. Um
back behind the library and mellow mushroom and all that.
And it was just it looked like old orchard when they started 15 years ago.
And if you walk through it now, I mean they heavily managed it.
But um
it it's just kind of shows what it can look like with time and patience and
kind of controlling the invasives. But that, you know, it's it's just a
simple rocks, benches, logs and Ohio native planting landscape.
Uh but if you're ever in the area there it it it's really
that'd be a good representation of kind of what it can be.
» And on the picture that you superimposed that onto ours you had it sort of in
front like along Granville. >> Yeah, it wouldn't have to be. I mean it
could be wherever makes sense. And what what my concern that I would have is
like how high is the flooding? >> Mhm.
» That because we wouldn't want to like put mulch and plants there and then it
floods away so yeah so up higher maybe up it makes sense and figure out how
high the water comes you know when we get extreme rainfall
but I don't know if I was just thinking maybe visible from Granville just
because it's kind of pretty focal point but just an idea if we wanted to do
something a little more heavy-handed with management
and you know a lot of that what would be removed in the process you
probably have to like use a forestry grinder
and preserve whatever trees are you know want to keep in the process but for the
most part a lot of it will go and I don't think we'd be cutting down
anything special you know so what's that material on the ground then
is that just I think just mulch
just mulch and boulders and benches
but they definitely like they definitely plant only Ohio native landscaping plant
which is most which is common in most parts these days
so I'm going to go to the next slide I
think that's all I have I have a question do you think there's
enough room to do something like this and still have some of the dwarf
apple trees I mean I didn't
measure it out or anything I was just trying to come up with
I walked through the park with reservation parks their their resource
manager and they were talking about how they like to do these natural play areas
any opportunity they get so I just and charm our park if you've ever been back
there at the Granville little thing along the side of the creek
but yeah I think there'd be room and you know depending on how big we would want
this space to be but I think it could be like a good focal
point or as the rest of the park is going through
the kind of the ugly stage where you would
have a pretty spot, you know. And it's walking distance from downtown.
People can walk down to the coffee and whatever else. So, just an idea.
» It's a great idea. I like it. >> It's right
It's just within walking distance of the apartments, of the communities.
» Yeah, there's people back there quite a bit. There's a the connectivity.
You have the trail, so it could potentially get a lot of traffic.
So, that's that's basically all I have.
» Love it, Daryl. >> I think I do, too.
Appreciate it. Yeah, thanks for having us.
» Yeah. So, um yeah, Aaron Aaron, thank you so much.
We appreciate that. So, yeah. I mean, yeah, obviously we've talked to Johnny.
We've talked about trying to do something with that park. This would be
a relatively low-cost option, at least to get started. As you've already
checked out, I mean, sounds like our service team could do some of it, not
all of it, but uh maybe to get ourselves started or something. So,
Yeah, I think what we're really looking for is
» potential collaboration with Delaware, with Franklin County,
with their soil and everything he said. >> Yeah, I definitely jotted down some of
those notes as well. I think we'll we've got a relationship with soil and water.
We'll follow up with them up regarding the the creek.
» said, with the tree city you know, it's just a lot of good It's all good. I
think what I'm hearing is it's not terribly We're not talking about a $4
million project here, but we are talking about things that will are beneficial to
the city and to our residents and potentially our younger residents as
well, if we go that route. So, >> Yeah.
All right. Well, we'll keep uh >> It makes our passive park a little bit
more enjoyable. >> Yeah.
» Yeah. For sure.
Yeah. Yeah, so we'll
uh we'll have the team. So, we have our tree team.
That's Alyssa, Jake, uh Aaron. Um you know, kind of keep digging a little
deeper, figure out what we could maybe do later this year, dig into next year,
etc., etc. So. Yeah, I love that. Like it.
» Thanks. Appreciate it.
» Anything else to add, Mark? >> I was, uh,
» Yes. >> I'm supportive of cleaning up that area.
I know I've been through there a couple times with my kids. I know with the
future development of that space, I know a lot of residents are already down
there. I think that'd be a really great investment, long-term and short-term as
we continue forward. I like the I'll say
less developed part of a park, right? So, the idea of just walking through the
woods than to have a huge development or expense of upkeep.
» Right. >> And we're doing that at the Arsenal. So,
we're looking for that. We have it there, and then there's so many
health benefits to kids just being in nature and playing on natural
» Absolutely. >> Is that each and everyone can
» Yeah. >> I'm supportive to just short walks, too,
and with your coffee in the morning, whatever you
» Yeah. And as that area over there with Mr. Genovese's property gets developed,
it's just a good spot. >> Yeah.
» Thank you. >> Okay. Do we have a J.R. Smith Park Grant
update? >> Yes.
» So, not as big of an update I was I was hoping for this month. Um, we got a
quote on some additional items and I didn't receive it until
an hour before the meeting. So, I'll have more to share on that next month,
but on packet page 19 slide.
So, these are some items that were removed from the bid documents that we
reached out to our um playground supplier. So, we can get all
of these back with the ODNR funding. Um >> We removed these for financial reasons.
» Okay. >> now with the extra funds from ODNR, we
can bring all of them back >> Okay.
» and add to it as well. So, the drinking fountain with the
refillable water bottle, um the grill, about six benches, and a bike rack.
» I remember years ago um too and the bench that you're showing here has them,
but I remember years ago having somebody from I think it was Source Point maybe
out and recommended when we put benches in that we have those side handles on
them like it's showing in that picture. So, I just want to make sure we do that.
It um It helps with getting in and out of
benches, I remember. >> And those are also the same ones we have
at the reservoirs, too. So, >> Yeah, perfect.
» keeping it consistent. >> Yeah.
» Um I don't have pricing on all of it yet. Well, I have to dive into it, but
that's what's included in with the quote. Um go to the next slide.
So, additional items that we asked him to get pricing for was some shade
covered benches, um some swings especially.
» We don't have We don't have any swings. >> We don't have swings and we were looking
um Sorry, do you want to go back to space
two? So, oops.
Right over in this area would be where the swings would go.
There's enough space because you have to have that Essentially, I believe it was
20 ft on each side for the swings, for the safety zone. So,
that's essentially where they would go. Um
» And so, I'm going to go down two more. Yeah.
» And we would do a three-bay, so six swings total, and we would do two of the
ADA, two regular, and then one toddler, and then one
» [clears throat] >> tandem swing as well.
Um it can be covered or cannot be covered, either or. Um
but we were looking at the benches with the shade covering at the splash pad and
the playground. >> Okay, if you want to go to the next one.
» So, these are just some of the shade structures that we received quotes for.
Um these would be at the splash pad, so maybe two or three,
probably one on each side, just so to offer, you know, cuz right now there's
no shade, and since we have this extra funding, we can now get the more more
extra amenities, essentially. So. >> No shade other than trees that will be a
a little bit small at first.
» So, at a quick glance of the quotes,
all of that plus these shade structures, we only hit maybe 135,000 max. So, we
still have a lot more. So, we can do more if you guys like the direction of
this, and we are looking into the security cameras. We are going to
coordinate with PD about that as well. >> So.
» I was just going to ask him about that. I know money came from a couple
different places, um but so with security or cameras, yeah. I thought
there was something else. Not signs, cuz you guys are working on
signs. >> Uh lighting. I think the lighting was
the other thing as well. Um >> Or maybe like an entrance feature was
something we talked about, too.
» The entrance feature? Just like a separate one. Like so we
have the >> It's just something we
» drew up. >> Yeah.
» It was something that was pulled from the original plan since we were looking
at signage. >> Yeah, was it?
» Mhm. >> We could get quotes if that's something
that committee would like to see. >> Yes, I would.
» I think it's important to keep in mind that we don't have to spend the money
right now. We have time. >> So we can look at adding items. We can
evaluate the park. >> And we can add
» See what we're missing. >> Yeah, I I think the key thing that we
need to keep a lookout for now is anything that would be important to
consider while it's under construction. >> Mhm.
» Um that's certainly something we're looking at with some of the other funds
such as that pavement replacement around the Lions building, uh full depth uh
replacement of the pavement that's below the Lions building. It was in um
disrepair. Um so we have some additional funding
outside of the ODNR uh that we'll be able to utilize that for. But if we can
put it as a change order into the existing contract, we'll save money on
certain items. Other items may need to be designed at a later point in time and
installed um when we have a little bit more information such as the park um or
the trail extensions that we discussed. >> And this still includes like what you
were telling us about with the sidewalk. Like that was all still in there.
» Yes, we So >> So that was a different
» Yes, so Alyssa was talking about the ODNR funding and some of the items we
evaluated and shared and pulled out. We are we have very specific items that uh
we need to utilize the earmarked $375,000
for uh parking improvements, sidewalk, uh trail extension, possibly some road
and other um improvements uh in the city street just
outside of um the Lions building. We're actually not touching that segment
between the 37 widening project and um when we do the mountable curb at Cherry
Street. So, that's the location we may be able to look at doing some
improvements to maybe um not have a gap in the the brand new area and then some
landscape improvements, as well. >> That sounds good.
» These items you're getting for a bid, is it a It sounds like it's a matter of
these We probably have funding to do all of
these. It's a matter of picking which ones we want.
» Yeah, so these were initially included in the bid, but we removed them for cost
reasons. Um but now with [clears throat] that additional funding from ODNR, we
can now add all that stuff back in. >> Okay.
» Yeah, we had originally talked about potentially looking at donations um to
try and add some of this back, but now that we have funding, um I think that's
the avenue we're going to go, but if you do know someone who wants to sponsor a
bench, so something that would be available.
» Melissa, do you know um at other parks if these grills are
utilized, if folks use these at parks? >> I think they do. I um
I personally never grilled out on them, but I think I've seen other people do. I
know So, my parents live across from Hanna
Park, so I grew up there in um Gahanna and that they always use that
grill. That grill's used all the time. If you look at it, it's all charred and
everything, so. >> And I we would place them, I would
suppose, near the pavilion.
» Yeah, near the shelter house, but at a safe distance for fire.
» Is it just one grill or is >> Yeah, we just have one.
» two or >> We could do two. I don't know how I
think one would probably be plenty, but if we want to do two, we can definitely
do two. >> It says grill on here, is that what you
added? Yeah, we had had it originally. Yeah, I
think it was one of the grills up on the shelter.
» Mhm. >> Yeah, I think we just had one initially
that was removed.
» I know Berkshire Township just installed a newer facility by the Township
administrative building. Mhm. And I saw their grill and it's already
been utilized, so >> Okay, I was just curious. I wasn't
saying anything. No, I was just curious if folks do that.
» As far as the shade structures go, what's the maintenance on that or
durability? >> So, the maintenance actually
see here. >> Definitely a question I asked as well
when we were talking about them. >> Yeah, so the service life with proper
maintenance is 20 years with them. They're relatively low maintenance and
these like the actual shade pieces, those detach, so they can just remove
those, store them for the winter, and then reinstall them when in spring.
» So, somebody has to take them down every year and put them back up.
» And remember where we put them, right Daryl?
And remember where we put them. >> You're saying they don't easily tear or
» No, I don't think they are that >> You're saying they have probably about
20-year lifespan and by then maybe the trees are grown in.
» Yeah, and they're they're a mesh material, so air is able to get through
them. Um, but certainly we'll have to look at
what the manufacturer's recommendations are as far as wind is concerned and be
aware if there is maintenance or we need to
maybe unhook and one of the sides during storms. Those all be considerations that
we'll have to look at because it definitely will have some upkeep if we
don't maintain it, 20 years is um not going to be their service life.
» I like the the idea of the shade structures, especially as the trees are
growing in. I just remember multiple times being at
a playground being like, especially the new ones, and the trees just are not big
enough. But to that question, do we have enough
trees where maybe in the future the trees are providing the shades instead
of the structures? But I'm thinking splash pad, it doesn't look big with any
trees over there.
» Yeah, I mean it's definitely something from a landscaping perspective that we
can we can add to the site. I I would think once we get the trees installed,
we should reevaluate, you know, whether or not we want to bring in some
additional. I might know Oh, he's not here anymore. But I might know someone
who who could take a look at it to see if if that would be a benefit.
» Yeah, so so my recollection when we were going through the design process, mostly
we were trying to get I think trees for screening and
more so than shade, and the idea was then we would do shade structures to
support that. I think there was some concern about getting trees too close to
the splash pad because they can be dirty, believe.
» Yeah, that that creates a problem in term Yeah, so.
» Yeah, I I would agree with that as well. >> I was just I was saying that the I'm
just roots can get wildy. >> Okay, good call. Yeah, all right.
» Yeah, if we want to do shade structures for playgrounds, they
have a million to choose from.
So that's kind of where we're at and
so far with the grant funding, but yeah.
» Something that we mentioned before that I'd be interested in learning more about
financially is if it would be possible to put in seating like they have at the
dinosaur park, the dinosaur splash pad in Delaware. They have like permanent
seats and tables. And if we're going to have shade, it
would be nice to have somewhere for the adults to sit.
» Yeah, because in addition we were talking about like adding They're not
permanent, but more benches and maybe some picnic tables over there. But we
can look into the permanent. >> I'm just curious since since Delaware
did it, let's let's see what they did and what it would cost and is it
possible with their engineering people with their
spacing and stuff.
» So maybe just a a quick point on the status of the JR Smith Park. So we
talked about grant funding, but where are we on the construction piece? And
that is one of the things Adam's getting very familiar with at
the park. For better or worse.
» Do you have anything? That's in our monthly report.
» we do have that later. Sorry. >> Oh, okay. I'm happy to give it now
though if you would like.
» No. >> No, okay.
Okay, so we're we're good with the grant update. The update was what we're
thinking about at. Okay. Moving on to Sunbury Sizzlin' Sounds, which if you've
looked at your agenda, they are coming tonight. So probably not a ton we need
to get into because they're going to talk at council, but it's just probably
like a
It's on our matrix, I suppose. This is just to bring it to the
» parks meeting, but we'll hear more from Civic themselves this evening.
» And you can ask your questions then if you have any.
» Yep. >> Okay, we have a monthly park update.
And so that your sizzle stuff is in here as well.
But then it looks like the park update starts on page 37.
Melissa, is this you? >> Yes, I will get the slides pulled up.
Okay, so Freedom Park. So, I was out there earlier back in July and I noticed
there were new bridges. Not sure if you put them out there
or where they came from, but there's yeah, a nice new bridge and new walking
path type thing, so that is all up Freedom Park. You can go
to the next one.
Now we have the J.R. Smith Park updates. >> Those bridges you're you're referring to
the disc golf or >> Yes. Yeah, the disc golf course.
Okay, so J.R. Smith Park is moving along. If you were along um State Route
uh 37 last week, uh they were moving fill
um offsite. We ended up with just over 100
truck loads. About 12 cubic yards per per truck uh coming in, so it was
» [gasps] >> it was quite the race, but we also had
our public works team um moved dirt from the wastewater treatment
plant uh because we are removing um
a lot of excavation material for the clarifier installation down there.
Um it's a 70-ft diameter um
clarifier that's about 20 ft deep. So, it's a massive hole. We have a lot of
excess dirt that the plan is to just mound it between the wastewater
treatment plant and the middle school. Um, so, our our team moved 40 truck
loads. Um, they're slightly smaller trucks than some of the offsite loads,
but we were happy that, um, that they were able to contribute and and help
with this process. Um, about half of the 100 came from our wastewater treatment
plant as well. So, we were able to, uh, negotiate a a a
lower fee because they were able to get dirt at a much closer location. But,
they still had to pay the hauling company and, uh, load, uh, the material
themselves. So, really happy that our contractor, Simonsen, and of course, um,
our members of the wastewater treatment plant were very welcoming, uh, so that
we could coordinate, um, and benefit the city and save a little bit of money.
Um, status of the park. Um, with all that
dirt, we are able to, uh, really start to look for some vertical, uh,
components. If you go out there today, you will see, um, pipes that are coming
up from the ground where the splash pad is going to be. Splash pad, um, provider
has been out, um, getting ready to, um, get that installed. I don't know if it's
being poured later this week or next, uh, but I'm going to try and, uh, find
out and uh, hopefully bring some pictures for
that component. Uh, same with the shelter house as well. They've worked on
the underground connections, uh, so we should be seeing some some vertical
movement there as well. And
» substantial completion >> Uh, and, uh, timeline for the park is
still looking at October, uh, with the caveat that they'll have some internal
components at the shelter house to complete.
Some
Reservoir Park, um the sign will be installed tomorrow.
So, we'll get pictures of that once it's completed.
Uh Sunbury Memorial Park >> a question about the Reservoir Park. Is
there I assume no. Any easy way to maintain
the paths that are around the reservoirs, the
walking paths, because some of them are They're just so cracked.
» Okay. >> And we haven't had them for that long,
but I don't know if that material just cracks easily.
If there would be any point in repairing them, would they just crack again?
They're close to water. There's lots of animals up there, birds, so I don't
know, but some of them are They're It's pretty unsightly. So, how pretty the
area is to walk on it is. >> Yeah, I I know we discussed whether or
not we could put some rejuvenator down on some of the paths in the city.
Um it's something that I can have um the manufacturer for that um that fill, that
uh black surface resurfacing agent, uh come and give a quote and also assess
whether or not it makes sense. Um often times you uh use a rejuvenator on um
you know, a surface that's maybe 2 >> 3 years old?
» Yeah. Um but it it's certainly something that with a surface that isn't being um
as heavily traveled as a road, we may be able to uh utilize that as a a way to
» Yeah, I'm just saying some of the areas they look brand new,
and then some of So, I don't know if people are walking on one side I mean,
you have to get around. I don't know. I don't know what it is, but some of the
areas are pretty bad. >> Okay.
» Some are beautiful.
Okay, thank you. >> That's worth doing. I will say I know
last year when I talked to Jake a little bit about this, we
this and the other trails, I think we did go out and do some crack repair work
on the other trails, but we didn't do it on this particular one and I don't
really know why. So, we'll we'll follow up with Jake to see if maybe he thought
it maybe he just didn't get to it and we'll try to get to it this year, but I
do like the idea of some kind of a um
you know, rejuvenator or something to help preserve the asset.
» Yeah. That looks pretty good. And I don't know if you guys have been down
there during the day or in the evening, but that
floating dock is getting a lot of use. Our my kids, their friends,
sometimes they don't like going down there cuz there's too many people on it.
So, it's definitely getting >> That's good.
» It's used, yeah. And I was walking, obviously, on the
path and I saw a kid, I don't know, 16, 17 years old and he pulled out a fish
and it was it was like I mean, I could see it from
up where I was and it was really impressive. They're having a lot of fun
down there. Yeah.
» Okay, Sunbury Memorial Park, at the Events Committee, we discussed
the Unmarked and Unforgotten Memorial being moved into the cemetery.
» I think we're talking about Are we talking about that tonight, too?
» Yeah, it's on the agenda. Yep.
» And then we also talked about
» Have you talked any more about that little building?
» I don't remember which committee we were in when we talked about that.
But this was >> This one. Yeah, it's probably going to
be this committee. Um
we haven't talked a lot more about it. I I think other than again, I
I don't think that the recommendation is to save the building. I think the
recommendation is to take the building down, preserve the marble, you know, for
maybe some other use in the future. We just haven't I think executed on that.
» Okay, I was just curious. Now I see the building every time we go by. I never
noticed it before, but >> Yeah.
» Okay. >> So, we probably I just we needed have
Jake prioritize that a little bit more. I
think he would like to get that building down. I mean, it's
it's a little bit of a risk. I mean, there's some risk
associated with it cuz the when we had the structural
» I I had a question. Yeah, the structural evaluation team.
» Last year, they were they were saying that the the marble is starting to pull
away from the brick a little bit. That's so again, we want to try to not only And
we don't keep anything in the building. Yeah, so we've got that back building.
We did originally. It used to be where they would store the mowers and any any
equipment they had to maintain the cemetery.
» Okay. >> But, yeah, whatever they've got now,
they've moved to that back building. >> Okay, thank you.
Um we also had uh three burials for this month.
Um for Town Square,
uh Town Square, we had the second Saturday market, the Young Makers and
Family Market. Although it rained, they did have a great turnout, so it was
great to see all those people come out and support them.
Um on our historical marker sign, there is a crack on it. Um so, Jake is working
on getting that fixed. And then the 4th of July parade, um
well, it wasn't actually on the square, just figured I'd include that. It was a
great turnout. I actually believe it was the largest parade that we've had so
far. So, Um
» These are participants, or >> Yeah, like
» Cool. >> Number of
floats, or entries? >> Floats, floats.
And then we know that said, so Uh we had a couple of service days in
July. Um the first one is City North Church.
They were on Sunday, July 12th, and they cleaned the waterway at the cemetery. Um
they also cleaned some headstones, and then they also painted the bridges at
the Fallen Heroes Memorial and the bridge that the Eagle Scout built at the
Kessel Disc Golf Course. And then we had Bright City Church on
Saturday, July 18th. They did the mall trains around the um around the square,
so. I didn't have any pictures for the
service day, so >> You put a picture of yourself in there.
» And some more. 4th of July. >> Who is
» And the mayor's son. >> Who is
that? Leland? >> Yeah, so.
» I'm going to fill in the blank space. >> Yeah, so we appreciate that the service
team was able to increase the size of the tree rings. I know that has been a
topic for some time. >> Yeah, and Aaron said he wanted to know
that. >> Yeah, Aaron said before he left uh how
much he liked seeing the tree rings out there. The other thing I would note
that's not on here, Bright City Church was going to begin to paint some of the
bases of the uh poles. You probably They've They've gotten beat up over time
with just mowing, trimming, you know, whatever kind of happens around it. I am
pleased to say that the service team started painting some of the bases. And
if you look up here on the Cherry Street um going toward the the 90° turn there
on the right-hand side, they started to paint those. They look
» You mean that like the curb? >> Oh no, no, not the curb. So they did
some curb painting, but but I'm talking about the the light poles and the
decorative light poles. Uh actually, some of them even I guess have the They
also are the signal poles as well. Just the lower level of the lower portion of
it. You'll note that there's kind of this I don't know.
What am I trying to say? It's like a I don't know.
It's a cover over the base of the >> And they're painting them.
» They are painting them and they they've been beat up and looked pretty bad for
some time. So, they're going to work their way all the
way up Cherry Street. They'll get to some of those that are out, you know,
further to the west, but but they've started out down here. So, you need to
look at those. >> too, so.
» Yeah.
I like
» Um for our monthly tree update, so for tree pruning,
they pruned 65 littleleaf linden trees along Woodchuck and Fairland.
So, there's some nice before and after pictures.
And then our our streets department I don't know if Aaron did.
Aaron and streets. I think it was Aaron. Um
and then some other forestry updates, they did mulch
some tree rings around the trees at Evening Street and along West Granville
Street. They also planted six new arborvitaes at the Columbus Street
parking lot. Um we have some potential tree removals
on Saffron, in North Vernon Street, and then also
over at Old Church Park. So, those will be evaluated soon.
And then Jake is also reviewing the nursery for the large caliper trees for
the square. So, we're hoping to get something for
planting in the fall. So.
And that >> Okay, so you remember that dates back to
when we took the tree down earlier this year, commitment to put larger trees in.
So, they are yeah, looking for as large as trees as they can get to get in the
space. I think they've identified the species, they're just trying to find the
trees themselves. So.
» [laughter] >> Anything else from staff?
» That is all the updates I had. >> Anything from the committee?
I'm looking for a motion to adjourn. >> I'll motion.
» Thank you. >> I'll second.
» Thank you. Roll call, please.
Uh Mr. Long? >> Yes.
» Mrs. Crawford? >> Yes.
» Mrs. Cooper? >> Yes.
» Three years meeting adjourned.