Parks and rec master plan approved by City Council

Akii Butler & Shelbie Goulding

The Streetsboro City Council addressed the master plan to update the city parks at a public meeting on April 8. The current updated plan includes fencing for the baseball field in the park, as well as add-on storage units for the parks and rec. department’s equipment that is used by many services in the city.

In a previous meeting, the council grew concerned about a proposed steel structure as they felt it would not be long-lasting to the city.

Julie Fields, of the fourth ward, stated that she would like to have structures that can last more than 10 years and not need to be replaced. In response, Greg Mytinger, the director of parks and rec., proposed an add-on to the current maintenance building rather than building a whole other structure.

“There’s already an existing area that we can expand on,” Mytinger said during the meeting. He said he would lean towards going this route as opposed to merging efforts with the service department. He said he is also wanting to add a shed to help with storage space, but the council still said that’s up for debate.

Currently the budget for the storage is $15,000. However, the more permanent situation that was proposed at the meeting may cost more than what they have budgeted, which the council worried could lead to future problems.

Mytinger mentioned that the parks and rec. department would still have a lot of equipment and vehicles outside of storage even if the master plan is approved. He said this was just a start until more funding becomes available.

Also included in the parks and rec. master plan was upgrades to the concessions and restrooms, which was estimated at $30,000. Fields expressed to Mytinger that $30,000 could be spent elsewhere, especially if the upgrades were cosmetic.

Council member at large Carmen Laudato agreed with Fields stating that $30,000 was the price of a small house. Mytinger reassured the council that the $30,000 was just an estimated and they have yet to move forward on any of the plans.

The council continued to discuss the purchasing of custom banners as well as brackets. Laudato expressed that she would like to have the brackets in time for the Memorial Day parade on Sunday, May 27.

After further discussion, the council moved to unanimously adopt the parks and rec. master plan update and Mytinger’s requests.

“We are currently in the process of implementing small sections of the plan,” Mytinger said after the master plan was approved. He said the larger sections will be a later task for the time being.

“The master plan is really helping us develop our two parks. We have two parks that need to be developed and this plan could help us create a plan of what they could be,” Mytinger said.

As the master plan starts progressing, Myinger said it should help the department budget for the future projects as well as they acquire grants.

The Streetsboro City Council meetings are held on the second and fourth Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at Streetsboro City Hall. They are open to all and encourage citizens to come out and voice their opinions.

Streetsboro City Council meeting has started at 7 p.m. with a brief introduction from Melissa Roubic running for judge on May 7.

— S-Journalist (@JournalistSg) April 8, 2019

 

Maybe get the schools involved? Hopefully for parks and rec as American Legion offers to help offset the brackets needed for the poles. City council motioned to move the discussion to May service.

— S-Journalist (@JournalistSg) April 8, 2019