The City of Newark finance committee voted 5-0 to authorize the mayor to apply for state of Ohio 2025 Land and Water Conservation Fund grants to support projects at Lewis Park and West Canal Park.

Staff member (presenter) said the grant is administered through the state and involves a matching requirement; in the meeting the presenter referenced a matching percentage in a way transcribed as "250050% match." The presenter identified the project sites as Lewis Park and West Canal Park.

Committee member Hauser made the motion and a second was recorded; the committee voted unanimously to forward the application authorization to the full council for final action.

The committee did not adopt specific project designs or appropriate matching funds during this meeting; those details will be part of later staff work and council deliberations.