By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Every five years, Bowling Green Parks and Recreation Department checks on the pulse of park patrons to see if the city is meeting the recreational needs of its residents.
The last master plan survey five years ago led to the addition of the outdoor pickleball courts, the dog park, and the walking path around City Park.
This time around, the parks and rec department is trying something different to gauge the interests of city residents. Instead of asking citizens to show up at a series of meetings at the community center, this year’s process is taking the survey to locations where people are gathering – the annual pet show, concerts in the park, lunches in the park, the next Firefly Nights.
“We’re kind of taking it to the people,” said Kristin Otley, director of the parks and recreation department. “I’m very excited about this process. I think we’re going to reach more people.”
Representatives from Brandstetter Carroll, the firm contracted to survey and collect data for the master plan, will have a tent and tables set up at events, where they will hand out play money to people wanting to vote on park improvements. Adults and children are welcome to spend their play money on projects they want.
“We’re parks and rec. If we’re going to get your input, why shouldn’t it be fun,” Otley said.
“At the end of the day, we’re here to serve the citizens of Bowling Green,” she said. “We’re here to do what they want us to do.”
The master plan is a comprehensive five-year blueprint for facilities, parks, and programming, shaped by community input. The choices for the voting include:
- Walking and biking trails, and improved connectivity.
- Support features like seating, shade, lights and restrooms.
- Outdoor park features like playgrounds, splash pads and picnic shelters.
- Indoor recreation facilities like gyms and exercise equipment.
- Athletic fields for baseball, softball, soccer, football and lacrosse.
- Courts for pickleball, tennis, basketball and volleyball.
- Arts and cultural spaces for arts, crafts, dance and performing arts.
- Recreation programs and more special events.
People being surveyed will also be given stickers to vote on programming they would like to see more of – such as youth sports, adult sports, athletic tournaments, older adult programs, nature programs, adaptive recreation, special events, movies or music concerts, cultural and performing arts, summer camps, fitness classes, swim lessons, runs and races, teen programs, festivals and e-sports.
In addition to the surveys at public events, the parks and rec department will also be sending out online surveys for citizen input, and meet with specific focus groups.
“It’s a three-pronged approach. We want to make sure to get a wide swath of the community,” Otley said. “Anybody who wants to share anything will have an opportunity.”
The goal is to have the next five-year master plan completed by the end of this year.
“There’s all kinds of things we want to do,” Otley said. “But we cannot do everything, we just can’t.”
The city has 11 parks, open from dawn to dusk every day of the year. Every Bowling Green resident lives within 1.5 miles of a park, she said.
“We are a great value,” Otley said.
The city is responsible for several facilities – like the community center, the Veterans Building, the nature center at Wintergarden, and the swimming pool in City Park.
“We have to be able to maintain what we have,” Otley said.
To continue existing programming, and look ahead to new programs, the parks and recreation department will keep collaborating with other community groups.
“We’re always willing to work with any partners,” she said.
The recreation needs survey will be distributed for community participation in the coming weeks. The survey can be accessed digitally or in paper form. For questions or more information, contact the Bowling Green Parks & Recreation Department at 419-354-6223 or visit https://bgohio.gov/712/Parks-Recreation.
