Morgan Township trustees report park progress; donors to be publicly recognized at spring event

Morgan Township trustees and staff told residents Oct. 27 that the township’s new 14‑acre community park and recently opened playground are getting heavy use and several remaining tasks remain before a formal public dedication.

Assistant (identified in the meeting as AC) said the playground has been open “for a few weeks” and the vendor completed a final inspection that found a “few discrepancies” that the vendor and inspector will work with contractor Pincura to remedy. The meeting record shows crews fixed some loose bolts and that Pincura will correct stairway angles and other punch‑list items.

AC said fence installation began the day of the meeting and that the playground will remain open while the work continues. To reduce traffic and improve safety after a near miss with a child leaving a restroom, staff said they will install removable speed bumps and consider moving the restroom away from the access path. AC said the township plans to make the front pad of the fire station a sterile area for emergency responses and to add signage prohibiting parking in that zone.

The trustees confirmed the park’s Tanya Ingles donor sign will be paid for by a private donor and that a planned dedication originally scheduled for Nov. 1 was postponed at the donor’s request. Trustees and several residents said the parties are eyeing a March dedication so photos and final landscaping will be complete; staff previously told the board the grass is “coming up real nice.”

During public comment residents asked the trustees to publish a full list of donors, contractors and volunteers who helped create the park. Dina Fackie said a public list and a community picnic during the spring dedication would recognize both monetary donors and volunteers who cleared trails or contributed time. Trustees said they expect to use the March event to recognize contributors and that some donations were managed through the Hamilton Community Foundation rather than routed through township accounts.

Trustees also said the township insured the park and pavilion for about $1.1 million and that township cash invested directly in the project was under 10% of the insured value; residents and trustees discussed the mix of ARPA funds, private donations, and Hamilton Community Foundation accounts used to pay bills for construction and equipment.

The board recorded no formal policy decisions on the park at the meeting; staff said remaining items—speed bumps, final punch‑list corrections and signage—are scheduled to proceed and that they will return to the trustees for any purchases requiring formal approval.

Resident suggestions included a community picnic, more public donor recognition and moving the restroom nearer to the parking area to reduce pedestrian crossings. Trustees and staff said they will consider the suggestions in finalizing the March dedication plans.