The Bellefontaine Joint Recreation District (BJRD) board started their Tuesday, Aug. 6, meeting with a report from the leaders of the team responsible for cleaning up Fred Carter Park last month.
“This is a project I’ve wanted to do for the 20 years I’ve been here,” Kris Myers, parks superintendent, said as he thanked David Schwieterman and Jamison Thornton for the work their group from Vineyard Christian Fellowship (VCF) did.
Besides cleaning out trash and overgrowth, the VCF team mostly focused on providing clearer, more usable walking paths around the pond. That included removing over 20 loads of debris, mulching 90 percent of the two-and-a-half trails they created, and laying down branches and tree trunks to mark those trails.
Thornton told the board two of the youth helping were his own kids, and the work gave them an appreciation for doing something like this on a local level, as contrasted by their mission trip to cleanup after a hurricane in Florida in 2023.
“They were able to see what an impact they could make here,” Thornton said, adding, “Clean your own room.”
Since they’re still looking for ways to invest in their community, the VCF team is now painting the lockers at the Hilliker YMCA in Bellefontaine.
For the park department’s part, they discussed finishing the other 10 percent of the mulching. In the meantime, Terry Luntz, a volunteer, has been working on weed removal at the pond. He has special permission to be in the water, clearing out weeds and overgrowth at Fred Carter Park.
Other board discussions Tuesday:
• Fall Sports Programs—Myers gave the board an update on youth sports, stating they have 82 participants in flagstaff and 67 in tackle football. “It’s doing well,” he added. “We have great numbers.”
Board member Keyne Strickland said they didn’t turn down any of the kids who tried out for the older tackle football program … they just ordered more jerseys, going from 39 to 41.
In youth soccer, the district has 311 participants in over six leagues.
Fall softball kicked off Wednesday, Aug. 7, with five city teams.
• Hoffman Pool—Myers reminded the board they have extended the pool season through Saturday, Aug. 31. “Our goal,” he clarified, “is that as of Aug. 17 we’ll go to one shift a day, from 12:15 to 4 p.m.”
This is dependent on what their staff can handle, especially considering the loss of college students when school starts back up. He also pointed out the significant drop they see in pool attendance after 4 anyway.
“I’m really proud of our staff,” Myers concluded. “It renews my faith in the next generation when we have kids like that working for us.”
• Blue Jacket Park—Bidding to widen and pave the walking path will begin Friday, Aug. 9, on the Bid Express website. According to Myers, as least four different companies have looked at the plans, so he anticipates getting at least a couple responses. He hopes to have that result to the board at the September meeting.
• Tennis Courts—The department is pricing out the cost to add four more pickleball courts at Mary Rutan Park. They also hope to finish resurfacing the Bellefontaine High School tennis courts before school starts, with the goal of Aug. 19, weather permitting.
• Budget—Myers plans to have a temporary 2025 budget in place for next month’s meeting.
• Staffing—With the loss of Tim Hales as of June, who took a job in his hometown of Hilliard, the department is now close to making an offer for the new recreation coordinator. Myers stated they should have that person in place by September. Tuesday’s meeting closed with an executive session re: another staffing issue.
The next BJRD board meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3.