The Bellefontaine Joint Recreation District (BJRD) board of trustees welcomed new member Lynda Holycross at their regular meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 11. Holycross replaces Joan Haushalter, whose term ended in January.
In addition, the district introduced their new administrative assistant, Jenny Graham. The former assistant, Carol Robinson, has moved into a full-time position with the engineering department. Robinson had previously split her time between the two departments while Graham will work for the district full-time.
Harmon Park Project
Superintendent Kris Myers gave the board an update on Harmon Park, which will be the biggest project of the year. At the moment, the design company, Freytag & Associates Inc., Sidney, is working on revising the concept.
Once they have that, they’ll get a rough cost estimate.
The next step, according to Myers, will be to set up a meeting.
“We want to get thoughts from the community,” he said, and added, “We’re pushing hard on this to get it moving.”
With that feedback, the district will shore up the final plan, then put out the call for bids.
Oakland Square
After the success of the work a team from Vineyard Christian Fellowship did on Fred Carter Park last summer, the BJRD is in discussions with project leader Dave Schwieterman about taking on Oakland Square next.
“We’re looking at doing the same thing at Oakland,” Myers said, “but we want it to be more of a community engagement project.”
With that in mind, they plan to see if other churches want to be involved in areas like resurfacing the basketball court, taking care of concrete or purchasing playground equipment.
Myers stated the First Lutheran Church already reached out to them. He and Schwieterman will meet with them on Feb. 27 to see how they can help.
“It’s not about redoing the park. It’s about bringing people into our community, and everybody coming together to make that happen,” Myers explained.
Anyone who wants to help will find opportunities, both physically and financially. In addition, the department will look into grant money for the project.
Other board action:
- With the basketball season wrapping up, the BJRD is busy getting the new sports programs brochure ready and into the schools next week.
- At the January meeting, Myers brought up the possibility of holding concerts in the park again. With that in mind, he booked the West Central Ohio Community Concert Band for Sunday, June 29. But, he added, that’s the only they’re planning for the year.
“I met with the Downtown Bellefontaine Partnership and they’re doing music seven times this summer,” Myers said. “We want to help support what they’re doing and will consider what that looks like moving forward.” - Myers reminded the board the district’s first debt service payment of $750,000 for the bond is due Dec. 27, 2025. “We’re in good shape,” Myers said, “and can handle that. But we’re dealing with money we’ve never dealt with as a board.”
- Demolition has started on the restroom projects at Lewis Ratleff and Mary Rutan parks. Renovations include new fixtures, ADA accessibility and additional diaper-changing stations.
- Myers is working with local IT talent Rob Strayer on putting up cameras around the parks. Their first priority will be covering Mary Rutan Park, followed by Harmon Park.
- Tuesday’s last order of business was to approve their updated background check policy. According to Myers, they rarely get a failed background check because those who wouldn’t pass back out of the process.
Like this month, the next meeting of the BJRD board of trustees will take place on the second Tuesday, March 11, instead of the first, and will be held in the police training room in the city building basement at 7 p.m.