By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
Parks in Troy Township and Fostoria will have new shelter house roofs. Bloomdale’s Railroad Park will get a merry-go-round, and parks in Grand Rapids, Weston and Webster Township will get much-needed playground mulch safety surfacing.
Those communities are among the 16 Wood County municipalities that will receive funds from the Wood County Park District in 2025. The park district’s board of commissioners on Tuesday awarded $100,000 in grants for improvements to the local parks.
Twenty-three communities applied for the grants, which are funded from monies set aside from the 10-year, 10-mill park levy that started in 2019, said Christopher Smalley, director of the park district.
A panel of professionals from other county park districts reviewed the applications and scored the projects. The communities and the projects that were approved for the 2025 funds are:
- Bloomdale—$4,509.99, Merry-go-round for Railroad Park
- Bowling Green—$ 5,000, Bench replacement at Needle Hall
- Bradner—$ 8,500, New 12×12 Pavilion
- Fostoria—$10,000, Shelter house roof
- Grand Rapids—$8,592, Playground mulch safety surfacing
- Lake Township—$ 3,503.43, Swing frame and seats for Fireside Park
- Liberty Township—$1,988.94, Picnic table and double grill
- North Baltimore—$ 4,550, Playground equipment
- Northwood—$3,845.93, Benches for pickleball court
- Pemberville—$ 6,172, Restroom building doors and automatic locks
- Perrysburg—$ 4,570, Wall-mounted bottle filler stations
- Portage—$ 8,837.74, Outfield fencing
- Portage Township—$ 4,702.97, Ballfield fencing
- Troy Township—$10,800, Shelter roof and gutters
- Weston—$11,340, Playground mulch safety surfacing
- Webster Township —$ 3,087, Playground mulch safety surfacing
“I love the local grants that we distribute every year,” said Sandy Wiechman, who completed six-and-a-half years on the park board. “It’s one of the best things we do for the local entities, and the improvements are some of the best things that happen to those entities.”
During the meeting, the board also approved the district’s $4.3 million operating budget for 2025.
Included in the budget are appropriations of $2,048,187.32 for salaries; $420,150 for contract services; $382,000 for employee health insurance; $337,965.66, OPERS;
$290,000 for capital improvements; $203,450 for equipment; $132,700 for supplies; $109,500 for other expenses; $100,000 for local grants; $61,750 for contract repairs; $51,950 for advertising and printing; $37,400 for materials; $30,000 for land acquisition; $29,698.72 for Medicare; $25,250 for travel and expenses; Workers Compensation $24,066.20 for Workers Compensation; $23,900 for rentals; and $4,000 for unemployment compensation. Total: $4,311,967.89
Candace Weis, president of the Friends of the Parks, summarized the year’s accomplishments of the friends group. With more than $21,000 raised during the spring and fall native plants sales, the friends supported park staff work days and appreciation lunches, Project FeederWatch, a park-themed raffle basket for Habitat for Humanity and cocoa and cookies for Wild Lights event in January.
The group also helped the district receive two grants–one for new benches on the Slippery Elm Trail and spinning wheels for Carter Historic Farm.
“We are starting a new focus for next year,” she said. They will change the Toledo Community Foundation fund to the Wood County Park Foundation.
“With a focus on raising money for the parks, we think people recognize ‘foundation’ more than ‘friends,” she said. “This provides an avenue for members and others to donate to the parks.”
In other business, the board:
- Along with Wood County Probate Judge David Woessner thanked Sandy Wiechman for her six and a half years on the board.
- Heard that Paul Herringshaw has been appointed to the board starting in January.
- Approved a list of 12 items, including a 2010 Ford Escape hybrid, to be declared surplus property and authorized to be disposed of through sale, donation, disposal or other means allowed by law.
- Announced, the Christmas Tree Recycling Project will be offered again this year. With all ornaments removed, real Christmas trees can be dropped off between Dec. 26 and Jan. 31 at the following Wood County Parks: Otsego, Slippery Elm, William Henry Harrison, W.W. Knight and the park district headquarters.
