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Parks update: splash pad on schedule, Foundation Park shift to city maintenance, pickleball among planned park projects
Summary
City staff told council the splash pad is on schedule and staff received notice a reimbursement check is expected; Foundation Park Conservancy will transition care and maintenance to the city in 2026, and pickleball courts and other park projects are planned through CDBG and donor funding.
City staff and park partners provided a detailed parks update on Feb. 24 that covered the splash pad timeline, Foundation Park maintenance transition, Memorial Park ballfield work, and planned pickleball and Riverside Park improvements.
Splash pad and reimbursements City engineers reported the indoor splash pad project is on schedule, with inside work progressing under temporary heat; a donor pledged to reimburse early payouts and staff said the first reimbursement check was expected to arrive the following Thursday. Staff said the contractor is progressing and the state inspector has been conducting checks.
Foundation Park and Foundation Park Conservancy Council heard that the city plans to assume full care and maintenance of Foundation Park in 2026. Staff said the conservancy will transition into a “friends” role focusing on capital projects and fundraising; the conservancy currently has separate endowments (capital and perpetual care) and the city will take on some maintenance responsibilities while honoring preserved donor arrangements.
Veterans Memorial and American Heritage Park Staff described plans to relocate and reconfigure the Veterans Memorial to American Heritage Park as part of America 250 observances, including new arrangements for engraved bricks and a new design that could be bid next year. The city will maintain family groupings of memorial bricks in the redesign.
Pickleball, Riverside Park and CDBG projects Council was briefed on CDBG-funded park elements in Riverside Park and West End improvements. Staff said the pickleball courts have local fundraising ($50,000 raised by the Mount Vernon Pickleball Association), and the city has budgeted its portion for construction in the CDBG timeline. Federal environmental clearances and state steps remain to be completed before the city can bid and award; staff said the project goal completion date is Aug. 1, 2026.
Memorial Park ballfields and other park work Staff outlined a phased approach at Memorial Park that will involve separating utilities, removing some older buildings and grading fields; the work will inconvenience leagues this season but aims to deliver improved fields and spectator amenities for next year. Staff also described plans to move some utilities and create temporary pads for leagues during construction.
Foundation Park programming and MVAC The Mount Vernon Arts Consortium (MVAC) presented its 2025 season and said it has an MOU with the Foundation Park Conservancy to provide technical and production services for the park’s events. MVAC’s season includes the Park Summer Kickoff (headliner Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder), July Fourth programming and family events; MVAC said it will continue to coordinate programming with the conservancy and the city for the park’s 10th anniversary year.
Other park items Staff said the city and conservancy are addressing geese through proven control measures (egg addling and coordination with ODNR volunteers), planning minor repairs to the Schnorrmeyer Event Center and refurbishing elements such as the River of Glass and the reflecting pool in the labyrinth.
Council and staff emphasized the transition of operations at Foundation Park is a phased effort and that the conservancy will remain a capital partner while the city takes on care and maintenance responsibilities in 2026.
