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Council moves to reestablish parks board, updates park and reservoir ordinances and accepts $10,000 parks grant
Summary
Council committees advanced an ordinance to reestablish a parks board, approved amendments clarifying fishing and park rules and accepted a $10,000 Wood County Park District grant for Portage Park shelter roof replacement.
FOSTORIA — The Law and Ordinance Committee advanced a proposal to reestablish a parks board and the council approved several ordinance amendments clarifying use of parks and reservoirs. The council also accepted a $10,000 grant from the Wood County Park District for a shelter roof replacement at Portage Park.
Committee and grant details: The Law and Ordinance Committee approved a proposal for first reading on June 3 seeking to reestablish Chapter 153 to create a parks board. Committee members said the ordinance will undergo all three readings and they are hopeful for passage.
At the meeting, Chris Smalley, director of the Wood County Park District, presented a $10,000 grant to the city for replacement of the Portage Park shelter roof; he encouraged the city to apply for future rounds of the district’s small grants program.
Ordinance amendments: Council discussed and approved amendments to several park/reservoir ordinances during second readings. Councilmember Grine proposed broader language allowing recreational fishing at all city reservoirs; council adopted the amendment directing that “recreational fishing is permitted at all city reservoirs. All federal and state rules and regulations apply as published by ODNR Division of Wildlife.”
Separately, council amended an ordinance to remove the phrase “either walking or in vehicles” from the hours-open section and removed references to prior Meadowlark Park lease and alcohol authorization in group-use language. The amendments carried on recorded roll-call votes.
Why it matters: Reestablishing a parks board and updating park and reservoir ordinances are administrative steps intended to clarify permitted activities and oversight. The $10,000 grant will fund the Portage Park shelter roof replacement with construction scheduled to begin in June.
Next steps: The parks-board ordinance will proceed through readings; the administration and law director will incorporate the adopted amendments into ordinance text ahead of subsequent readings. The Portage Park roof replacement work is planned to begin in June using the awarded grant funds.
