Council approves fitness-court funding commitment after debate over site and CIP priorities

Tipp City Council voted to approve Resolution 18-24, authorizing the city to proceed with an outdoor fitness court if additional funding is secured. City staff reported a $30,000 grant from the National Fitness Campaign and said administration is pursuing additional support from Upper Valley Medical Center and local donors; staff estimated UVMC could fund up to about 30 percent of the project.

Several council members raised process and priority questions. Councilmember Liddy and others said City Park is already crowded with courts, fields and playgrounds and suggested Kyle Park might be a more suitable location; others asked whether the parks board had formally reviewed or approved the project and whether the project had been integrated into the city's parks plan. A council member cited approximately $190,000 in competing parks needs identified in the CIP and urged careful prioritization.

Mr. Green told council the grant application does not mandate a specific location and that administration had previously discussed the idea with the parks board, though a formal vote by the parks board was not confirmed in the meeting. He said the resolution would allow the city to proceed if the grant and additional funding are in place. The resolution passed on a roll call with one dissenting vote from President Hoffman.

Council directed staff to continue fundraising discussions, consult the parks board on final site selection and report back with funding commitments and a recommended location before construction begins.