By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Village and township parks throughout the county will see new playground equipment, picnic tables, benches and ballfield bleachers in 2023 – compliments of the Wood County Park District.
Each year the county park district receives applications for local park projects, with the promise to share $100,000 of its 1-mill operating levy with community parks. On Tuesday, the park district board voted to divvy up money among 19 different towns and townships.
Park professionals from other areas are enlisted each year to review the applications and select the best projects for funding, so there is no perception of favoritism on the part of the Wood County Park District. This year the selection team members came from park districts in Hancock County, Sandusky County and Erie Metro.
The following applications were approved by the board on Tuesday:
- Bloomdale – $2,900 for trash receptacles.
- Bradner – $4,689 for ballfield fence.
- Custar – $2,926 for assorted park improvements.
- Cygnet – $5,000 for playground equipment.
- Grand Rapids – $2,340 for picnic tables.
- Haskins – $16,185 for ballfield bleachers.
- Jerry City – $9,999 for basketball court.
- Luckey – $5,000 for benches.
- Millbury – $16,185 for bleachers.
- North Baltimore – $5,000 for playground equipment.
- Northwood – $2,239 for shelter tables.
- Pemberville – $2,488 for bridge replacement wood.
- Perrysburg Township – $4,000 for playground equipment.
- Portage – $4,700 for ballfield improvements.
- Tontogany – $4,454 for basketball improvements.
- Troy Township – $638 for message center board.
- Walbridge – $2,227 for dugout improvements.
- Webster Township – $4,000 for benches.
- West Millgrove – $5,030 for playground mulch.
The three-person panel reviewing the applications took into consideration safety, need, orderly development of parks/recreation in Wood County, and the availability of other funding sources for the local entities.
