Huber Heights council reviews master plan for Thomas Cloud Park, OKs grant submissions

City officials and park designers presented a master-plan validation and concept design for Thomas Cloud Park on Aug. 19, focusing new facilities at the park's southeast entry and asking the council to move forward with two grant applications to help pay for a larger playground and invasive-tree removal.

The plan, developed by MSA designers Amber Wazinski and Amy Benetti, centers a new playground, splash pad, community building and amphitheater near the Grange Pike/park entrance to create a stronger street presence and a large central green intended to hold both daily uses and major events such as the city's fireworks. "If we could consolidate some of these new program elements, the playground, the splash pad, the amphitheater in this area, improve that street presence, and then also address some of those entry concerns," Wazinski said, "this would really hit a lot of those priorities." Benetti added the master plan is a "road map" and emphasized the plan will be refined in schematic design and construction-document phases.

Why it matters: designers and staff told the council the consolidation improves access, creates event-ready space and opens…