By Rick Palsgrove
Southeast Editor
Groveport is a land of many parks.
Groveport city officials are looking to expand on what its city parks can offer recreationally to the community. With that in mind, a committee made up of city staff and two city council members is reviewing the Groveport Master Parks Plan. The review involves all the city parks with an emphasis on Groveport Park. Groveport City Council also budgeted $40,000 to pay for a consultant to help review the plan and formulate ideas for the parks. The committee could make recommendations on future park improvements by the end of the year.
When asked why Groveport Park was being emphasized in the Master Parks Plan review, Groveport City Administrator Marsha Hall said, “Groveport Park is our largest park and has the most potential to provide and fulfill more recreational needs. The review of the plan will enable us to see what would be appropriate for Groveport Park and what the potential costs could be for improvements.”
Groveport Park currently features the Groveport Recreation Center, Groveport Aquatic Center, five softball diamonds, 1.8 miles of paved pedestrian trails and loops, a gravel/grass pedestrian trail extending from Blacklick Park to Rager Road, two fishing ponds, a wooded area, the Ohio and Erie Canal Lock 22 historic area, the Groveport Public Works Facility, and green space.
The existing Master Parks Plan was developed in 2010 by EMH&T. This original plan recommended that, in the future, Groveport Park could include: five tennis courts, two outdoor basketball courts, two sand volleyball courts, playground equipment, permanent restrooms, drinking fountains, and a shelter house.
“We can look at re-positioning items proposed in the original plan for Groveport Park and also think about what recreational options are necessary for the park,” said Hall. “For instance, are sand volleyball courts still desired?”
Groveport has 19 parks including:
•Community parks: Cruiser Park, 55 acres; Groveport Park, 75 acres; and Heritage Park, 16 acres.
•Neighborhood parks: Blacklick Park, 21 acres; Degenhart Park, 3 acres; Orchard Park, 10 acres; Greenpointe Business Park, 25 acres; Newport Village, 7 acres; Village Green, 3 acres; Hendron Cemetery with open space, 31 acres; Founder’s Bend Park, 5 acres; Founder’s Bend Gateway, 6 acres; Founder’s Bend open space, 32 acres; Bixford Green HOA, 8 acres and 6 acres; Elmont Place Reserves, 11 acres; Hickory Grove, 5 acres, and Homer Ohio Land open space, 15 acres.
•Mini-parks: Veterans Park 0.1 acre.
The city also owns and operates the 18-hole The Links at Groveport golf course, located along Richardson Road.
In addition, there are two Metro Parks nearby – Three Creeks Metro Park to the north and Walnut Woods Metro Park south of town.
