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Council hears plan to finish Maple Springs Park; $105,000 of town impact fees already used
Summary
Council members heard a multi-page presentation on remaining work and funding for Maple Springs Park, including a request to buy aluminum picnic tables, bleachers and other fixtures; staff and volunteers reported roughly $596,000 in grants, $134,000 in cash donations and $333,000 in in-kind work to date.
Keith Johnson, a town staff member who presented the Maple Springs Park proposal, told the Mantua Town Council that the project has been funded with a mix of grants, donations, in-kind labor and impact fees but that several items still remain to be completed.
Johnson said the town has written about $930,000 in checks to get the park to its current condition and that grants total about $596,000. He described cash donations of roughly $134,000 and estimated in-kind volunteer and donated labor at about $333,000. Johnson said the town had used about $105,000 in impact fees to date.
"If you really add all this together... $1 of impact fee equals 7 and a half dollars worth of value in that park," Johnson said, adding that with more grants and donations the ratio could improve "to $12." He presented three purchasing options and recommended buying park and facilities aluminum picnic tables that would provide 16 tables under the pavilion, one ADA-compliant table and several movable bleachers.
The presentation outlined next steps: finish restroom construction, install playground equipment already purchased last fall, complete pavilion transitions, add concrete around pickleball/tennis courts to prevent tracking dirt, harden the bicycle pump track with additional concrete, install signs and complete landscaping and east-side cleanup. Johnson also reported an $18,000 AARP award and other pending grant opportunities.
Council members asked about theft risk for the lighter-weight movable tables and bleachers and about placement near the sled hill and bandstand. A council member asked whether purchases could be approved quickly; Johnson asked for a motion so the town could order items promptly.
No formal vote on buying the picnic tables or bleachers is recorded in the transcript excerpt. Council members were told the park work to date relied on grants and donations rather than general fund money. Johnson said bathroom completion was the first priority and that volunteer labor would be used to install playground equipment the town already owns.
The council thanked Johnson for the grant work and asked that questions about the items be sent to him in advance of a follow-up meeting. Council members also discussed timelines: Johnson said orders for some items should be in by the end of the year.
For now, the council left the park procurement request on the agenda for a later meeting when members said they would be prepared to make a formal motion or vote.
