Bowling Green Parks and Recreation had its most typical year since 2019, with park programming coming out of COVID fog.
Kristin Otley, city parks and recreation director, presented a quick wrap up of 2022 to City Council earlier this week.
The city’s parks remain open to the public 365 days a year, continuing to “enhance quality of life through parks, programs and facilities,” Otley said.
Following are some details about 2022 in the parks.
Programming and events:
- Day camps – 346 participants.
- Youth sports – 478 participants.
- Held more than 45 different events.
Natural resources programming:
- All the popular pre-COVID nature programs were able to be brought back. All Bowling Green elementaries and private schools had nature programs either at Wintergarden Park, Simpson Garden Park or in their classrooms.
- Hosted 24 volunteer sessions with BGSU, totaling 471 service hours.
New Adult programming:
- Friday morning birding.
- Sustainable landscaping, a partner program with Wood County Park District and the Wood County Soil and Water Conservation District. The five-part program was so popular the venue had to be moved.
Aquatics:
- More than 30,000 visitors to the pool.
- Swim lessons – 436 participants.
- Sold 1,783 trays of nachos at the pool concession stand.
- Year two of “Splash Fund.”
Facility rentals:
- 106,788 so far used park buildings for “life moments.”
Parks and Recreation Foundation:
- Successful Party for the Parks fundraiser.
- First BG Brewfest fundraiser.
2022-2026 Master Plan approved and has begun implementation:
- Working on concept plan for outdoor pickleball courts. Advisory group has begun soliciting sponsors/donors.
- Working with citizens groups on dog park and disc golf.
- Restarted and completed meetings of the original Simpson Garden Committee
Projects:
- Electrical upgrades in City Park’s Needle Hall, including new outlets and interior/exterior lighting.
- Retrofitted lighting at the pool to all new LED lights.
- Installed new timed door locks on the City Park rink restrooms.
- Sound baffles installed in the Veterans Building atrium.
- New pedestrian cut-through installed in the Community Center parking lot.
- New entry paved at Simpson Garden Park off Conneaut Avenue.
- Parking lot security lights installed at Simpson Garden Park.
- Six new benches installed at Wintergarden Park.
- Boardwalk extension and overlook completed at Wintergarden Park.
- New landscaping installed at the Stone Shelter in City Park.
- New sundial sculpture installed and dedicated at Simpson Garden Park.
- Inclusive playground officially opened in Carter Park.
- Walking path and lighting installed at City Park. Some security cameras have been added, with more to come.
