By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Small parks across Wood County are getting playground equipment for children, benches for parents, and a lot of safety surfacing to cushion any falls.
On Tuesday, the Wood County Park District Board approved $100,000 in grants for 19 community parks.
This year, many of the grants went toward putting safety surfacing on playgrounds, said Wood County Park District Director Neil Munger.
“One of the things we have always focused on is safety,” Munger said.
The park district has two playground safety inspectors on staff, who help community leaders ensure the safety of the equipment and settings.
When the park district first started awarding grants, $50,000 was set aside for community parks. That rose to $75,000, and is now at $100,000 a year. The district may look at next year’s budget to see if that amount might again be increased, Munger said.
For many small communities, the park district grants are the only hope of funding for new park projects.
“They are doing things that couldn’t happen without the grants,” Munger said.
Selecting those to get grants this year were three park professionals from outside the county, representing park districts in Erie, Hancock and Sandusky counties.
The following grants were approved Tuesday afternoon:
Bairdstown – $2,218 for two basketball poles and backboards; $7,590 for two A-frame shelter houses.
Bloomdale – $3,276 for a geodesic climber.
Bowling Green – $2,864 for half pipe extension at the skate park in City Park.
Bradner – $5,244 for mulch and an ADA swing.
Custar – $2,895 for an outdoor grill, two picnic tables and a trash receptacle.
Cygnet – $10,000 for concrete around concession stand and bleachers.
Grand Rapids – $1,518 for safety surfacing.
Haskins – $5,000 for safety surfacing.
Lake Township – $4,375 for a Discovery Cave.
Luckey – $4,096 for spring riders.
North Baltimore – $4,653 for 10 trash receptacles.
Northwood – $2,067 for three benches.
Pemberville – $6,919 for resurfacing the tennis courts and converting them for pickleball.
Perrysburg Township – $4,205 for safety surfacing.
Tontogany – $5,832 for safety surfacing.
Walbridge – $4,872 for four benches.
Wayne – $5,360 for rocker playground equipment.
Webster Township – $14,015 for safety surfacing, curbing and sidewalk.
Weston – $3,001 for four picnic tables.
