Community members and city of Bellefontaine colleagues are mourning the loss of a longtime public servant and friend, Kris Myers, who was instrumental in leading the Bellefontaine Joint Recreation District through a variety of improvement projects during the past two decades.
BJRD Superintendent Myers, 46, passed away unexpectedly Monday, Dec. 1, at his residence in Bellefontaine. He is survived by his wife, Christina, and their four children, Kathyrn Marie, William Allen, Allison Viola and Andrew Henry.
Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Home, Bellefontaine, is handling funeral arrangements, and details are available at https://examiner.org/kristopher-adam-myers/
Bellefontaine Service-Safety Director Wes Dodds said Myers served the city “with dedication and heart since January of 2005.
“Over his 20 years with us, he was instrumental in expanding youth programming, improving efficiencies and processes, and shaping a vision of recreation that was rooted in community, inclusion and opportunity…
“Losing Kris leaves a hole in our hearts and our organization that can’t be filled. As we move forward, we will honor him by continuing the dream he believed in — building community spaces where families can connect, play, and grow together. And we will do so with the same heart and humility that Kris brought to work every day.
“Our priority now is supporting his family, our staff and this community during this difficult time.”
Current BJRD Board of Trustees President Pat Ellis said it was an honor working alongside Myers for a number of years, and he admired the parks superintendent’s dedication and loyalty.
“He was a tremendous employee. It’s hard to find people who stay in those roles for that length of time anymore. He was a community man,” he said, mentioning Myers’ leadership roles through the Bellefontaine Kiwanis Club and coaching Bellefontaine girls golf.
Dennis Versele, a BJRD board of trustees member from 1990-2021, also was impressed with Myers’ fortitude and innovation he carried into the role, from the date of his hire to the present time.
“To follow the legacies of Biff Roberts and Dick Hoffman to perpetuate the Bellefontaine Joint Parks and Recreation District as a model of excellence was no easy task. Kris’s was a fortunate hire.
“An innovator, insightful administrator, budget conservator and frankly, just a lovely family man and citizen. Those of us on the inside knew how difficult a job the position afforded. He rose to the challenge.”
Former Mayor Ben Stahler, who worked alongside Myers for about 10 years of the parks superintendent’s tenure, reflected on the meaningful imprint that Myers has left on many lives in the community.
“With over 20 years as our parks director, Kris has likely had the greatest impact of any individual with respect, lives and activities of our youth in our community.
“With scores of youth sports programs and overseeing 17 separate parks, Kris had things well in hand. Serving the community for over two decades, it was a joy to see our community come together and pass a tax levy that will add additional funds to improve our parks.”
Under Myers’ leadership, the outdated Kaleidoscope playground was transformed into the Play at the Peak adaptive playground, which opened in October of 2019 as a space where children of all abilities can play side by side, Dodds noted.
Myers also oversaw the adoption and management of Myeerah Nature Preserve as a city park, giving residents access to one of the region’s most beautiful natural assets and creating opportunities for hiking, fishing and even hosting special events at the nature preserve.
He also worked collaboratively with local schools to launch the winter walking program, continually seeking new ways to promote health and wellness in our community.
Dodds and Ellis noted that perhaps most significantly, Myers helped usher in a new era for the Joint Recreation District through the passage of the dedicated income tax in the spring of 2024 for park improvements and operations.
As a direct result of that effort, new playground equipment has been installed at Oakland Square Park, the city has begun planning for a new municipal pool, with Myers helping to lead its first community input meeting just several weeks ago. The city also has broken ground on the reimagined park at Harmon Field.
“These transformative projects — and the memories they will create for generations to come — stand as a testament to Kris’s vision and leadership,” Dodds said.
“With the passing of the levy a couple of years ago, we have the capital money to move forward. There’s a lot of things we can do now, and Kris led the way,” the BJRD Board of Trustees president said.
Ellis noted that for many years, the department operated 17 parks in the city “with a small staff and took care of the cemetery with limited funds, until the levy passed. We’re blessed to make improvements to various parks all over the city. We were able to make our parks great and his dream was to do those things.”
Dodds said his departed colleague was not only a respected superintendent — he was a good friend.
“He cared about this community, its families, and especially its children. His loss leaves a tremendous void in our city, but his imprint will remain visible in every park, every program, and every child’s smile.
“But what always struck me most about Kris was how central his family was in his life. He was a devoted husband and father, and he often spoke about his kids with genuine pride and affection. The same patience, care, and integrity he showed at home carried into his work — and it’s part of what made him so effective and so respected.”
“Kris was a good friend, devoted, family man and true public servant,” Stahler agreed. “He will be greatly missed.”
Carrying on for the parks department, Ellis said the board’s objective is to keep things rolling with the visions Myers and the trustees had so that they can become a reality.
“He was a super guy, a super person and he deeply cared and loved the parks. Kris put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into that over the years and was always willing to jump in and help out with anything that needed to be done.”
