By Rick Palsgrove
Southeast Editor
Groveport City Council is serving up legislation to build two additional tennis courts in Degenhart Park.
Council is considering park improvement projects for 2018 that include whether to build the two additional courts at Degenhart Park or build five new tennis courts in Groveport Park. Council could also decide not to build any new tennis courts at all.
Other projects under consideration include resurfacing the three existing tennis courts in Degenhart Park and constructing a bicycle path connector to link the Bixford Green subdivision with Three Creeks Metro Park.
Groveport City Administrator Marsha Hall said the resurfacing of the three existing Degenhart Park tennis courts could be done as part of a project to build the two additional courts or completed without the additional courts.
Hall also said the city plans to apply for an Ohio Department of Natural Resources Nature Works Grant to fund the bike path connector link from Bixford Green to Three Creeks Metro Park.
The cost estimates for the proposed projects proposed are:
•Bixford Green path to Metro Parks: $207,400.
•Degenhart Park tennis court resurfacing: $33,350.
Hall stated in October that both of the cost estimates mentioned above are from 2010 estimates put together by EMH&T for the 2008 Master Park Plan. She said the cost estimate for two additional tennis courts at Degenhart Park is $400,000, based on EMH&T’s estimate of $612,000 for five new courts and moving the sanitary sewer line.
Updated cost estimates, as well as potential project start and finish times, are still to be determined.
On Jan. 22, council heard the first reading of the legislation to build the two additional tennis courts at Degenhart Park. Council will discuss the issue further at its upcoming meetings in February.
Water damage to city buildings
Repairs are still being made to the Groveport Municipal Building, located at 655 Blacklick St., after a broken water pipe on Jan. 8 spilled 11,000 gallons of water causing significant damage to the building’s second floor, first floor reception area, elevator, and the basement. City officials said repair costs will be covered by insurance.
Hall said replacement of the drywall and flooring could be completed by February.
“We hope to also have a working elevator by February,” said Hall.
Hall said the winter weather also contributed to damage to some other city buildings, including a roof leak at the Groveport Recreation Center. In addition, a boiler broke in the recreation center, which flooded the men’s locker room.
Also, a gas leak on a Columbia Gas line outdoors on Front Street caused Groveport Town Hall to close for a day recently.
“The last couple of weeks have not been fun,” said Hall.
Because of the damage to the municipal building, Groveport City Council has been holding its meetings at Groveport Town Hall, 648 Main St. Residents interested in attending upcoming council meetings should check the city’s website at www.groveport.org or call 614-830-2052 to verify the location of future council meetings until repairs are made to the municipal building. Notices of the meetings are also posted on the city’s public notice boards at the municipal building, Town Hall, and the recreation center.
