By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
After a year of isolation and hardships for some local families, Kristin Otley would like to make sure kids can take a dip in the pool, families can picnic at shelter houses, and homeruns will be tallied at the ballpark.
Otley, director of the city’s parks and recreation department, said parks have been a lifesaver during the pandemic – and will continue to be in demand for the foreseeable future.
“COVID has really been hard on everyone, but my heart goes out to the kids,” she said Tuesday during the first park board meeting held in a City Park shelter house for more than a year.
To make sure kids from all income levels can take a dip in City Pool, a “splash fund” has been set up. An anonymous donation of $5,000 has jumpstarted the fund to help city families with financial hardships purchase pool memberships.
“We think we can serve a lot of kids with that right away,” Otley said. “If a kid wants to come and swim in the pool this summer, we want them to come and swim in the pool – absolutely.”
Pool passes are on sale now to anyone, with the plan to start out the season at 50% capacity (325 people) for the first month.
“As long as we can be sure there’s enough room to spread out,” then daily admissions will be permitted, Otley said.
While the “splash fund” will help kids get in the pool, there was no talk of a “slush fund” to help with the increase in concession stand prices.
“As you can imagine, if you’ve been shopping lately, prices have gone up,” Otley said to the board. Food prices are up 10% to 12%, while paper and plastic prices have jumped 15%.
“We really try to not raise those prices unless we have to,” Otley said.
So the prices of most of the concession stand food items – like hot dogs, popcorn, nachos, and frozen grapes – will increase about 25 cents. The one food item not seeing a price change is freeze pops, which will remain at 25 cents.
“That is something every single kid can purchase for a quarter, and get a round for their friends,” Otley said.
The board approved the new concession stand prices.
Board President Jodi Anderson presented a report from the park foundation, which has agreed to pay for the replacement of the Eli Joyce scoreboard in City Park, and the new shelter house in Carter Park.
The softball scoreboard has been in the park budget for the last three years – but each year has had to be cut.
“We just limp along without it,” Otley said.
But this year, Otley really wanted the scoreboard to function when kids get up to bat.
“When they come back and play softball, we want to have a scoreboard that works,” she said.
And at Carter Park, the foundation is helping with a new shelter house to replace two aging teepee style shelters. The goal is to get the shelter up and available as soon as possible for people wanting to picnic.
“We are anticipating there will be a lot of that this summer,” she said.
“Our parks have been really, really busy, and they will continue to be,” she said.
Otley thanked the park foundation for pitching in where needed.
“We would not survive without that foundation,” she said. “They support and enhance everything parks and recreation does.”
Otley also noted the results of a National Recreation and Park Association survey showing the top outdoor activities by generation are:
- Baby boomers – attending picnics or barbecues.
- Gen X – going to the park.
- Millennials – visiting a beach or lake.
- Gen Z – swimming.
Also at the meeting, Otley gave an overview of the random survey conducted by BGSU graduate students about parks and recreation in Bowling Green. Of the 2,514 surveys mailed out, 639 were returned.
A total of 96% of city residents consider the community’s parks to be important or very important. “That’s pretty awesome,” Otley said.
“We look forward to delving more into that data with you,” she said told the board about the survey results.
In other business at Tuesday’s meeting:
- Otley said the park levy committee will be meeting soon to discuss how much and how long the next levy request will be. A special meeting will be called for the board to hear the recommendation.
- Natural Resources Coordinator Chris Gajewicz reported that no open burn is planned for this spring at Wintergarden Park.
- Gajewicz also reported that trails on the new Wintergarden Park property are tentatively being laid out.
- Recreation Coordinator Ivan Kovacevic said registration has begun for summer programming. In addition to many youth programs, the annual lunches and concerts in the park will return in some form. “There are a lot of things to look forward to this summer resembling normal,” he said.
- Anderson announced the annual wine and cheese fundraiser is planned for Sept. 24.
- It was reported that a new fundraiser – the BG Brew Fest – is planned for Nov. 6, with local micro-breweries being invited to participate.
- Otley reminded that City Park trees will be treated for gypsy moths sometime this week. Contractors will do aerial spraying at night, so the park will be closed to pedestrians the next morning.
