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Groveport master parks plan taking shape
(by Rick Palsgrove, Southeast Editor - May 19, 2009)
People in Groveport love their parks.
So said EMH&T landscape architect Jim Dziatkowicz at Groveport Village Council's May 18 committee meeting where he presented an update on the progress of formulating a new village master parks plan.
"I am continuously and pleasantly surprised with the community's knowledge base of its open spaces," said Dziatkowicz. "There's a considerable amount of pride, passion, and sense of history; and we've garnered a lot of positive information from our needs assessments."
The village and EMH&T have conducted two public meetings, a mail survey, and interviews with individuals to get citizens' input on how best to use and develop Groveport's eight parks - which include Groveport Park, Blacklick Park, Heritage Park, Degenhart Park, Veterans Park, Orchard Park, Greenpointe Park, and Cruiser Park.
Dziatkowicz said the common themes that have arisen in the park research thus far are:
•the village should maintain and take advantage of what it already has;
•permanent restrooms are needed in all parks;
•Palm Pond in Heritage Park needs more attention;
•consideration should be given to pets in parks as well as controlling them;
•connecting the village's historic core with trails from Groveport Park to Blacklick Park through downtown to Heritage Park; and
•a walking/bicycling trail system connections throughout the village and beyond.
Some other items mentioned by citizens and council members for park upgrades include: outdoor basketball and volleyball courts; improvements to the trail from Blacklick Park to Rager Road; additional tennis courts; playground equipment upgrades; skatepark; preserving open spaces and wooded areas; more shelterhouses; a pistol/rifle range; a community garden; and a dog park.
Dziatkowicz said the next steps in formulating the new master parks plan involve setting priorities and then establishing goals and objectives. He said it is hoped a draft of the master parks plan would be ready by mid July.
One council member bristled at the $30,000 cost of developing the master parks plan while the village is undergoing budget cuts.
"We're having fiscal problems and we paid $30,000 for this?" questioned Councilman Shawn Cleary.
Village Administrator Steve Morris said the money for the master parks plan was budgeted last year before the village began making cuts in 2009.
"I don't like it. We don't plan ahead financially. It's spend, spend, spend," said Cleary.
Councilwoman Jean Ann Hilbert encouraged Cleary to be more positive.
"Don't be so negative," she said.
Councilman Ed Dildine noted the plan is part of a slow process stating it is something the village can use for the next "five to 10 years" to do projects when it is practical to do so.
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