By Gary Ogle
gogle@wbcowqel.com
When Galion Mayor Tom O’Leary went down his list of things the city has in the works, it was obvious city officials have an eye on their parks.
“That’s been Shirley’s (Clark) vision,” O’Leary said, crediting the Galion City Council member who chairs the Parks and Recreation Committee. “The idea of having something like that is something the Mayor’s Office has been behind.”
High on the list – and admittedly a source of frustration – is the splash park slated for East Park. City officials had originally thought the facility, which is being built in the area of the former swimming pool at East Park, would be getting kids wet sometime last summer. However, the old adage about the best laid plans of mice and men came into play, and the cautious expectations now are that it will be spraying water yet this summer.
“Nobody appreciates the problems of getting this up and running more than we do. The project is moving ahead,” O’Leary said. “It’s going to be really nice for the area, especially for Galion.”
O’Leary acknowledged the criticism directed at the administration over the delay in getting the splash park operational. He questioned the motivation of that criticism as well as the logic or expertise behind it.
“Some critics have never built anything larger than a doghouse,” O’Leary said pointedly. “We’ll have a splash park. I wonder when we’ll have a men’s softball league.”
Two major issues were believing the operation would be 100-percent turnkey in nature, which it is not; and the old bathhouse and plumbing from the former pool. The initial plans utilizing the bathhouse and restrooms were disbanded upon closer examination of those facilities. Now the old bathhouse and bathroom are being torn down and instead a pre-fabricated restroom will contain the plumbing.
That part of the project was bid in mid-March and fingers have been crossed that it will be in place making the splash park operational late this month or early in the next.
O’Leary said initially the idea is that there will be no admission charge for the splash park, but whether or not it remains that way is essentially in the hands of City Council.
Several other recreation-type projects are also coming Galion’s way in the near future, and like the splash park are at least partially funded by Freese Foundation grants.
One of those is an expanded press box for Unkrich Stadium at Heise Park. O’Leary said the pre-fabricated press box is scheduled to be installed in the weeks immediately after the Tigers’ home opener when the team will be on the road for a few weeks.
Finnegan Construction in Shelby is responsible for the installation and Weithman Brothers from Galion will do some of the structure work.
That project, as well as a soccer field southeast of Peco Park that the Galion school team can use for practice, is being done in conjunction with the Galion City School District.
O’Leary credited Superintendent Jim Grubbs and his staff. “The new team in town are really good to work with.”
The city is also working to place a pole barn-type structure at Amann’s Reservoir at the site of the old shelter house there. It will be a four seasons facility that can be used for several activities and gatherings.
The mayor said the goal was to have it in place by the time the Galion Cross Country Invitational rolls around in the fall.
“It (cross country meet) is one of the coolest things that happens in Galion as far as bringing people into town,” O’Leary said. He added it was his desire that the shelter would also help Galion in continuing to host the district cross country meet.
Other projects in the works for the city include replacing two culverts with the Shoemaker Ditch in the area of 7th and 8th avenues, and pavement for Portland Way North from Heise Park Lane out to Timberlane.
“We’re going to see if our budget can satisfy that roadway’s need for money,” O’Leary said. “Our goal would be this year and next year to have (Ohio) 598 from city limit to city limit resurfaced.”
The mayor estimated the cost at approximately $100,000 per mile.
Another significant project will be major reconstruction of the screw pumps at the sewer treatment plant and development of a reliable generator back-up in the event of a power outage such as the one that hit Galion recently.
Development at the Big Four Depot is also in the works. The city will use money from a state grant already awarded to it to build an adjoining pavilion there. It too could be used for receptions and reunions, however, O’Leary also envisions it being used as a site for local artists to display their work.
“It will be the largest place in Crawford County for art display,” O’Leary said, noting it will be part of the Central Business District. “Visually it may dominate the property. We’re hoping it will drive people’s attention to that (Big Four Depot).”
The project completion date is this fall.
Also related to the Depot restoration is an Eagle Scout project by James Burkholder which will begin restoring the platform and covering canopy.
O’Leary is especially excited about teaming with the Boy Scouts for such projects.
“This community has a phenomenal number of Eagle Scouts and we want to work closely with the Boy Scouts,” said the mayor.
Because of the scope of the original iconic platform that once adorned that part of town, O’Leary thought that possibly an entire reconstruction could potentially be projects for multiple Scouts.
Keller Drive will run off of Brandt Road to the hotel project at that site. That development will require contracts for road, water, sewer and storm sewer.
“We’re partnered with that developer,” O’Leary said.
He added that entire area will be provided drainage.