Council hears final parks and riverfront master plan; passes resolution of support and several ordinances

Nikki Warnke, city planner, and consultant designers Nathan and Sydney presented the final Parks and Riverfront Master Plan to the Defiance City Council on Sept. 2, describing a multi‑year, phased program of capital projects, programmatic initiatives and operations across 20 park areas and the downtown riverfront.

“The vision guiding this whole plan from the beginning is to develop a community‑supported parks and riverfront master plan that can be successfully implemented through capital projects, programmatic strategies, and operations,” Sydney said during the presentation. The consultants said the process included five public surveys, four community events, steering‑committee meetings and social media outreach, totaling roughly 2,500 participants and about 125,000 Facebook views.

Key elements described by the consultants include waterfront amenities at Gateway Park (a farmer’s market pavilion and kayak cove), a Canal Park pedestrian corridor and food‑truck plaza, an ice‑ribbon skating facility and warming huts at a confluence‑area event center, two treetop canopy boardwalks, a pedestrian bridge across the confluence and a nature education center in Kingsbury Park. Kingsbury was identified by survey respondents as the top priority park; the consultants estimated an overall program cost of about $145 million if every major capital project were completed as envisioned. They also estimated approximately $45 million in potential private investment tied to mixed‑use development shown in plan concepts.

The final report, the consultants said, includes an action matrix that assigns goals, responsible parties, potential partners, estimated timelines and funding approaches for each item. The plan categorizes projects as completed/in progress, quick wins (low cost), mid‑level funded projects, and major capital projects requiring significant design or permitting. The consultants gave a cost example: achieving the first priority action items across all parks would cost about $6 million.

Councilmember Michael Oreste moved that the council adopt a resolution of support for the master plan as written and that the council review the plan each September before the budget process to consider including proposals in the upcoming budget. Councilmember Kevin Hancock seconded the motion. The council approved the resolution by roll call; the vote recorded in the meeting transcript shows councilmembers John Engle, Mark Corbett, Kevin Hancock, Rusty (last name not specified in transcript), Michael Masse and Mrs. Crutch voting yes and Councilmember Waxler voting no. The resolution was entered onto the record and the consultants continued taking questions from the council and attending members of the public.

Councilors and staff discussed implementation mechanics and near‑term accomplishments. Planners highlighted recent and ongoing actions already under way, including collaboration on kayak access, swim lessons at Kingsbury Pool, connectivity work at Veterans Memorial and a winter ice ribbon trial at Bronson Park. City staff and the consultants emphasized that successful implementation would depend on phased funding, grants and partnerships.

Votes at a glance: - OPWC grant application for Wayne Avenue waterline replacement: Council authorized the city administrator to apply for Ohio Public Works Commission grant funding to support replacement of waterlines along Wayne Avenue (East Second Street to Downs). The project was described as a $1.8 million waterline project; the city is eligible for $400,000 in OPWC funding. The ordinance was adopted by council during the meeting.

- Pharmaceutical settlement: Council authorized the law director to enter into settlement agreements with eight pharmaceutical manufacturers as part of ongoing opioid settlement processes; the ordinance was adopted. The law director said the amount the city will receive is not yet specified.

- Wastewater treatment plant contract: Council authorized a contract to construct improvements at the wastewater treatment plant, describing a $5.7 million project that includes new screening, septic receiving and storage to improve treatment operations and compliance with an ongoing IWIP/consent‑order plan. The ordinance was adopted.

- Collection agreement with Ohio Attorney General for overdue income taxes: Council authorized turning charged‑off income tax accounts from 2015–2024 to the Ohio Attorney General for collection. Staff stated the AG will add collection fees; staff described an example in which the agency’s upcharge results in an extra collection amount and the agency retains the fee while remitting the principal. The ordinance was adopted.

Several council members thanked the planners and steering committee members for community outreach and the presentation. The council closed the business portion of the meeting after additional routine items and adjourned.