By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
For the past few months as COVID-19 curtailed activities for local residents, many turned to parks as places of solace.
The parks offered a consistent comfort in a world full of uncertainties.
“All our parks were open the whole time – and people were using them,” Bowling Green Parks and Recreation Director Kristin Otley said earlier this week during a meeting of the parks and rec board.
“It was a saving grace for a lot of people,” she said.
Early on when the pandemic hit, use of parks in Ohio was up by 85%. As people continued being asked to stay home from work and refrain from social activities, they found peace in parks.
During May and early June, park use in Ohio was up a “mind-blowing” 257%, Otley said.
“Parks make life better,” she said. “We were a lifeline to people. We were essential.”
In Bowling Green, local residents turned to the pathways of Simpson and Wintergarden parks.
“It’s very exciting to see that,” said Chris Gajewicz, BG natural resources coordinator. There were days when cars parked at Wintergarden Park nearly stretched out to Wintergarden Road, he said.
“It really showed how this community really values its parks,” Gajewicz said.
Across the country, not all parks stayed open. A national garden consortium survey showed that of 237 respondents, only 4% remained open for visitors. Simpson Garden Park was among those to stay open to provide relaxation and respite.
“I’m very proud of that fact,” Gajewicz said.
Park board member Jeff Crawford thanked the park staff for working so hard through the pandemic.
“Thank you guys. Certainly parks have been an important part of the community always – but especially at this time,” Crawford said.
While the park usage was up – the parks and recreation budget has gone down. Otley explained that the department’s budget revenue is basically divided into thirds – with funding from dedicated property taxes, park and recreation fees, and a percentage of the city income tax.
All of those have taken a major hit – causing a projected 40% to 45% drop in the parks and rec budget.
“We will cut expenses where we can, but there’s not a lot of fat,” Otley said.
The department has already cut seasonal staff, who normally assisted with summer programs, the swimming pool and park maintenance.
The 18 permanent staff members have picked up duties normally provided by seasonal personnel.
“I think our parks look amazing considering that,” Otley said.
The community center is now back open, with some modifications for patrons. Some fitness classes are back, said Ivan Kovacevic, recreation coordinator.
“We have room to space people out,” he explained.
Playgrounds are once again open, and shelter houses can be used at 50% capacity. Some day camps and sport skills programs have started back up.
The pool, however, will remain closed this summer.
“That was a difficult decision,” Otley said. “It was the right decision. It was a painful one, but it was the right one.”
Kovacevic is trying to be creative in offering virtual programs for kids, including the annual pet show. He is also working on a movie in the park event this summer.
In other business, the park and recreation board:
- Elected Jodi Anderson as president, Phil Simmons as vice president, and Cale Hover as secretary. Crawford, who was serving as president, talked about the biggest challenges in the last few years of passing the park operating levy, working on the tall grasses issue at Simpson, putting restrooms in Wintergarden, and now opening the Veterans Memorial Building in City Park.
- Heard from Otley that the old Carter Park shelter houses will be taken down within the next two weeks.
- Learned from Anderson, the board representative on the Parks and Recreation Foundation, that the annual wine and cheese fundraiser has been canceled for this fall because of the coronavirus.
- Heard from Gajewicz that pollination programs are underway at Simpson and Wintergarden parks.
- Learned that efforts are being made to no longer use chemicals in Wintergarden Park, and to limit their use in Simpson Park.
