Athens Recreation staff outline facility upgrades, program schedules and safety purchases

The Athens Recreation & Parks Department gave the advisory board a broad operational update on Jan. 16 covering facility maintenance, capital purchases, programming and upcoming events.

Staff reported the 25th‑anniversary sculpture project is moving forward with artist outreach and that shrubs in front of the community center had been removed to prepare the site. Catherine, a staff member, said the department is working through the contract with Joshua Tree and will send proposals to artists who had expressed interest in the sculpture park.

Catherine said the department’s budget was released, enabling purchases that include motors, winches, safety straps and cables to upgrade gym basketball‑hoist systems; the back half of the gym had been upgraded earlier and the front half is scheduled next. Arts West’s new performance‑space flooring is complete, and the skate park project was moved into the current year with Ridge Runner Construction as a contractor contact to re‑engage.

Other facility work includes waiting on engineered stamps for new restrooms at West State Street Park, replacement of selected lockers and added seating in the community center women’s locker room, and a planned permeable parking upgrade by the Westside Community Gardens and Crosley Field area at West State Street Park.

Staff also described programming and outreach: the department will run Fam Jam on Jan. 25, open spring break camp registration to the public on Jan. 24 (for kindergarten through 5th grade, with an initial registration period for before/after care families), is planning a 5K in March and an Easter egg hunt, and is expanding hours and drop‑in childcare in evenings once staffing permits. A backpacking clinic drew 25 participants; a winter mileage challenge has 65 registrants.

Public safety and accessibility items noted: the department purchased automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for parks with funding from Athens Has Heart and will wait on delivery; agility equipment for the West State Street dog park and a communication board for the playground have arrived and will be installed when crews are available.

Arts programming highlights include a May gallery opening at Arts West, Los Flamingos theater productions in spring, an Art in the Park program beginning in March and steps to launch a community studio. Staff said they will work on hiring a program coordinator for Arts West and are pursuing Ohio Arts Council grant applications.

Camp Rotan: staff are creating a blueprint for a cabin so the state can approve it as an official building for public use. Archery session feedback is being collected, and staff reported follow‑up with participants will guide future improvements.

Catherine said parking passes for 2025–26 are on sale and noted the department will attend the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association conference in early February to gather ideas and contacts. The department is also beginning a strategic planning process in 2025 with Mission Met, a roughly 12‑week program to produce a three‑year plan.

The staff update covered many routine maintenance and program items rather than formal board actions; staff will return to the board with project schedules and procurement details as they are finalized.