By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Community parks throughout Wood County will soon be getting money for playground equipment, picnic tables, kayak launch and ballfield fence.
The Wood County Park District, which normally shares $100,000 each year with local parks, added another $24,000 to the pot this year for an inclusive playground in Bowling Green.
Chris Smalley, new director of the park district, gave the board two options for funding this year. First was the typical $100,000, second was the addition of $24,000 for the inclusive playground. The board – after debate – went with the second. Following is a list of the projects to received funds:
- Bloomdale, $1,598 for swivel grills.
- Bowling Green, $24,000 for inclusive playground.
- Custar, $7,620 for playground equipment.
- Cygnet, $12,000 for replacement ballfield fence.
- Haskins, $6,500 for ADA and standard picnic tables.
- Luckey, $3,822 for playground equipment.
- Northwood, $7,124 for picnic tables.
- Perrysburg, $13,678 for kayak launch.
- Perrysburg Township, $6,580 for playground safety surfacing.
- Rossford, $5,458 for equipment for pavilion.
- Tontogany, $6,850 for playground equipment.
- Walbridge, $9,925 for playground equipment.
- Wayne, $4,135 for fossil play equipment.
- Webster Township, $8,954 for shelter house.
- West Millgrove, $5,756 for playground equipment.
As customary, the projects selected for funding were recommended by three park professionals from outside Wood County.
The request from Bowling Green for $24,000 was a big ask, explained Rob Brian, operations manager with the Wood County Park District. But recently retired park district director Neil Munger had mentioned that the county park board had expressed interest in the past about the inclusive park built in Perrysburg by the same organization, Wood County Plays.
But since the $24,000 would eat up nearly a quarter of the funding for community parks, the board was given the option of handing out the customary $100,000, plus adding on the extra $24,000.
“They didn’t want to take away from the other viable projects,” Brian said.
But board member Denny Parish questioned the fairness of funding the inclusive park project, since all the board members had received an email championing the project. The grant selection project is designed to be non-political, with the board members not aware of the requests until the impartial three-member team makes its recommendations, Parish said.
Never before in his seven years on the board have the board members been approached by someone campaigning for a particular project, Parish said.
“Now we’re being asked to give taxpayer money to a project that initially was being done by a non-profit organization,” not a governmental entity, he said.
Board member Tom Myers said he understood Parish’s concerns.
“It does go against what we’ve done in the past,” he said.
However, Myers said he supported the additional funding.
“I think the project itself has value, and as long as the funds are there and we can afford it, that it’s an investment that we as a park district can make to the communities,” he said.
Myers said he could attest to the popularity of the inclusive park already being used in the county.
“The park in Perrysburg is very well attended,” he said. “It’s something that follows the mantra that we want to make things accessible for all. I’m good with it. I think it’s a good way to spend our money as long as the funds are there.”
Parish said he didn’t disagree with the project, but was concerned about the transparency of the parking funding process which relies on taxpayer dollars.
“I think it’s a wonderful project,” Parish said.
Myers said he believed the grant awarding process stands up to scrutiny.
The board agreed to award $124,000 to community parks, with Myers, Parish and Kimberly Rose voting the favor. Board members Sandy Wiechman and Bill Cameron were absent.
