By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green’s parks give patrons plenty of chances to flex their muscles while walking, playing ball, skateboarding, swimming or climbing playground equipment.
But there is room for improvement, according to the citizens attending the park forum this week focusing on the city’s active parks – City Park, Carter Park and the newest, Ridge Park.
“I think we have a pretty good park system,” citizen Les Barber said.
The parks scored an “A” for activity options, but got lesser grades for park buildings, ballpark drainage, and parking availability.
Citizens were asked for input on the Veterans Building in City Park, and the teepee shaped shelters in Carter Park.
Kristin Otley, director of the BG Parks and Recreation Department, explained that the teepee-like shelters may be removed and replaced with new shelter houses. No one present objected to that change.
Otley also said that the Veterans Building has several problems, including not being ADA compliant and structural leaks. The three options being considered are to renovate the building, tear down the building and leave open space, or tear down the building and replace it with a new structure.
“Seems like we ought to keep some kind of facility there,” resident Ellen Dalton said. She suggested balancing the cost of renovations versus replacement.
Valerie Brinkhoff asked about the water tower in Carter Park, which was originally designed to have a theater in the bottom below the water storage. That space is currently being used for storage, but Brinkhoff asked if it could possibly be opened up for community events.
Also involving Carter Park, a concern was voiced by Diane Biems, president of the girls fast pitch baseball organization. The girls teams use the north softball fields at Carter Park – which frequently flood especially with spring rains.
“We have limited usage of it because of poor water drainage,” Biems said, adding that she understands it’s quite expensive to fix flooding fields. But, “it’s hard to have home games at Carter Park when there’s such poor drainage.”
New Ridge Park playground.
Ridge Park could benefit from the addition of some type of walking trail around the perimeter of the park, so parents could exercise while their children use the playground equipment, Barber said.
“That probably wouldn’t be too expensive,” he said. Otherwise, Ridge Park offers kids what they need – some playground equipment and some wide open spaces for unstructured play.
“Ridge represents a place for passive activity,” meaning non-organized sports, Barber said.
City Park offers the most options for activities with the pool, playground, basketball courts, ball field, skateboard park and a circular roadway ideal for walkers. The central location in the city works well for kids, Dalton said. “Kids can get there on their bikes.”
And the new aquatic center is “fantastic,” Biems said.
Dalton pointed out that additional parking would be nice, especially during summer concerts.
Another issue arose about the property next to City Park, which the city leases to Bowling Green Country Club for golfing. Barber mentioned that some residents believe it is wrong for the city to lease land to a golf club.
Barber also brought up the possibility of a park near the old South Main Elementary. “I’m very surprised there isn’t anyone here advocating for a park in the Second Ward,” he said.
This week’s meeting was the fourth of five public focus groups being held to discuss the parks and programming. The comments will become part of the park and recreation department’s five-year master plan update.
The last forum, on future directions for the parks, will be held May 18, at 7 p.m. in the Bowling Green Community Center. Free child care will be available.
Anyone interested who is unable to make it to that meeting may email comments to the focus group moderator, Shannon Orr, from Bowling Green State University at skorr@bgsu.edu.
