Committees approve West Park accessible playground, Horizon lease, TLCI planning grant and several finance items

The Utility Safety & Environment and Finance committees on Sept. 29 approved a group of routine but community-facing actions: authorizing advertisement for bids on an accessible West Park playground funded in part by an ODNR grant, renewing a short-term lease with the Horizon Education Center for after‑school programming at East Recreation Center, approving an application for a NOWACA Transportation for Livable Communities Initiative (TLCI) planning grant, and approving a change order on the Murray Ridge Road resurfacing project. The Finance committee also approved disposition of end‑of‑life water equipment and small appropriation adjustments.

West Park playground

Director Vearden told the committees the city is ready to advertise for design‑build bids on a fully accessible playground that will use a poured‑in‑place rubber surface and adaptive equipment. The project carries an ODNR grant award of $325,000 and the city will use issue‑6 funds and a water conservation grant for the balance. “This will be a completely accessible playground,” Vearden said. Committee…