Loveland council authorizes Land and Water Conservation Fund application for Nesbitt Park improvements

Loveland City Council on a 7-0 vote authorized the city manager to submit an Ohio Department of Natural Resources Land, Water and Conservation Fund application for the final phase of Nesbitt Park improvements.

City Manager Dave Kennedy told council the package focuses on projects with minimal earth disturbance to ease federal review. He said the proposal includes trail and bridge lighting that aligns with downtown streetscape design, interior and exterior restroom renovations with new fixtures and finishes, an additional adult swing with views of the Little Miami River, and a new North Carl Brown gateway to improve pedestrian access.

Kennedy said the city chose low-disturbance projects after lessons learned during federal review of a prior amphitheater project and noted the application requires a 50% local match and is due Nov. 14. He told council staff had obtained local vendor quotes for the restroom work and expected the renovation to proceed without the same federal delays seen on larger projects.

Councilors asked about timing and whether mechanical systems such as space heating or air conditioning were included in the restroom estimate. Kennedy said HVAC was not included in the original cost estimate but that electrical stubs exist and adding climate control would not likely be expensive; he said he would discuss that with the contractor.

The council read the resolution authorizing submission and execution of the grant application and approved Resolution 89 by roll call, 7-0. The resolution directs the city manager to submit the application and, if funded, proceed with the locally matched improvements.

The next publicly scheduled step for the project is notification from the Department of Natural Resources; Kennedy said the city expects to learn results in early 2026.