Parks and Recreation Board recommends updated rules, reviews park easement, design contracts and $50,000 grant application

The Parks and Recreation Board on March 12, 2025 recommended that the City Council adopt an updated set of park rules and regulations and discussed multiple park projects and a $50,000 grant application during its regular meeting.

Board members voted to approve the minutes from the February meeting and then voted to adopt the latest version of the rules and regulations for recommendation to City Council. A Parks staff member told the board the draft removes any drone-specific restrictions because “the drones are regulated by the FAA and so we really have no oversight,” and recommended leaving drone language out of the local rules. The board approved the staff recommendation; the motion carried after an aye/no voice vote was taken.

In project updates, Parks staff described progress and outstanding issues on several capital and maintenance items. On a hydrology project at Community Park, staff said design work is mostly ready but construction depends on securing a larger easement from adjacent property owners. Staff said there is an existing 10-foot easement and the project is asking for an additional 30 feet; if major plan changes are required to secure rights of way, the board was told the project could face budget impacts and might not proceed this year.

The board was also informed that the city is under contract with Fishback for design of a trail loop at Bicentennial Commons. Staff said Fishback will schedule additional survey work and then begin trail design, including drainage points under the trail to Gregory Creek and the Great Miami River.

Staff said the department is preparing a $50,000 grant application to pay for a small shelter at Rosemont Park; if awarded, the grant would be used to install a shelter east of the parking lot between the lot and the detention basin, roughly 60–70 feet from the east end of the parking area. Staff described the shelter as a small, uncovered structure intended for shade and storm protection rather than group rentals.

Design pricing for a Crossings Park parking-lot redesign remains pending; staff said they were waiting on a consultant estimate and expect an update at a future meeting. Seasonal operations items included plans to open park restrooms and restore water service on April 1 and work to reinstall batting cages. The board also relayed a request from the soccer board to postpone application of pre-emergent seed on fields that have recently been seeded; a board member said the soccer group paid about $11,000 for the seeding.

The meeting concluded after a motion to adjourn passed by voice vote.