By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
As they gathered under the new shelter house in Carter Park Tuesday evening, Bowling Green Park and Recreation Board members learned about new trails, new gardens and new programs in the city parks.
“This has been a long time coming,” Park and Recreation Director Kristin Otley said of the new Bellard/Perkins Shelter House that replaced two small aging structures that were “foundationally challenged” at Carter Park.
“Most weekends in the summer, every single shelter in the parks is rented,” Otley said. “We’re super excited to have people come and use this.”
Across town, the park department is opening a new trail in the recently acquired 20 acres connected to Wintergarden Park. The acreage is the last available land contiguous to the park – bringing the total park property there to 120 acres, said Cinda Stutzman, natural resources specialist with Bowling Green City Parks.
“It’s a beautiful piece of former farmland,” Stutzman said of the addition that is being called the West Wintergarden Prairie.
The public is invited to come along on the first guided walk on the freshly mowed trails that connect the new property with Wintergarden Park and Tucker Woods.
The Bowling Green High School cross country team removed small trees and large growth along the trail, and the BGSU Circle K Club will help plant about 200 trees and shrubs on the 20 acres, Stutzman said.
The park department is also working with the BGSU Construction Technology program to build boardwalks for the new property, said Chris Gajewicz, BG’s natural resources coordinator. Since it was a dry spring, it wasn’t known where boardwalks would be needed until recently.
There will be two structures built in the new prairie area, thanks to donations, Gajewicz said.
The new acreage will also be connected to the front grass area of Wintergarden Park that is being converted into a native short grass prairie. That project will include a variety of flowers throughout the growing season and additional walking trails.
Stutzman warned that the front section of Wintergarden may be pretty ugly during the transition.
“Give us three years and we’ll make it happen,” she said.
To the north, at Simpson Garden Park, a five-year plan is being developed. The gardens are always changing, Gajewicz said.
“I promise you, whatever we do will enhance, not distract,” he said.
And on the north edge of the city, the Community Center is gearing up for the regular fall basketball and soccer leagues, but also for some newer events like First Friday Family Fun Nights featuring loosely structured activities like box hockey, giant checkers and giant Jenga.
An entire week of Halloween activities are planned, including:
- The Haunted Mile, obstacle course fun run at Community Center on Oct. 23.
- Sunday Slime Time at Community Center on Oct. 24.
- Costume and Jack-o-Lantern Contest at Community Center on Oct. 25.
- Terrorific Tuesday at Community Center on Oct. 26.
- Spooky Cookie Creations at Community Center on Oct. 27.
- Drive-Boo Trick or Treating in Carter Park on Oct. 28.
- Pumpkin Scavenger Hunt at Wintergarden Park on Oct. 29.
The annual Zombie Fun Run will not be held since the BGHS DECA organization is unable to help out. The students usually help set up the course and play the roles of zombies.
As she often does at park board meetings, Otley shared data from a poll conducted by the National Recreation and Park Association. The survey showed that 93% of adults believe their mental health benefits from parks and recreation programs.
“I cannot stress enough, during COVID our parks were a lifeline to people in our community,” she said. Parks allowed people to get out of the house and to safely see family or friends.
And they keep returning, Otley added.
“It brought some new people out – and they’re still coming.”
