By Gary Ogle
gogle@wbcowqel.com
The City of Galion finds itself in need and is turning to residents for some help. The need? A plan for the city parks and public recreation. The help? Complete a survey soon coming their way.
“I just hope this really helps,” said Shirley Clark. City Council member and chair of council’s Parks and Recreation Committee. “If they would just respond, I know it will.”
Galion residents are being asked to complete a Park Satisfaction Survey. It contains eight questions on their use and impression of Galion city parks and public recreation facilities, along with ranking several potential projects or additions.
The completed surveys can be mailed back to the city with utility payments, dropped off at the Municipal Building, or filled out online at www.galion.city.
Galion Mayor Tom O’Leary explained the survey is part of an effort by the city to access more funds from the Freese Foundation which requires that a plan for capital improvements be in place. While the city already receives the annual income from that particular endowment, access to additional funds from the foundation may be available for projects that are part of a long-term improvement plan.
“We’re using this to get some sort of prioritization about this,” O’Leary said. “We need this to satisfy the Freese funds to have a capital improvement plan. We have to justify everything over the income requisition.”
Clark and O’Leary cited recently completed projects such as the disc golf course on city-owned property at the reservoirs and the Splash Park that was completed this summer as part of East Park.
“It’s turned into a rebuild of that whole area,” O’’Leary said of the Splash Park.
A new shelter at Amann’s Reservoir is also in the works.
“We would like to see it done,” Clark said.
“It’s going to go in the ground this fall or next spring,” O’Leary added.
O’Leary said a strong response from residents, even though he called the method of getting the surveys returned “passive” in nature, is critical to future projects in Galion – even those outside the scope of parks and recreation.
“If this (survey) is successful, we’ll probably use the format to get feedback on other capital improvements,” the mayor said.
Clark and O’Leary said the entire Amick’s and Amann’s Reservoir complex, which is owned by the city but is outside of the city limits, is a topic of discussion for long-term planning.
“Is that something we want to see as city-owned ground for possible development,” O’Leary asked rhetorically.
Clark added, “There’s a lot of potential out at Amick’s and Amann’s. That could be a big asset to Galion.”
The Parks Satisfaction Survey will be included in the next set of utility bills which are due to go out Sept. 7 and 8. O’Leary said no timetable has been established for returning the survey, but noted the sooner city officials have some information to work with, the better it is for planning purposes.
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