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Dayton park commission, council weigh preserving LC Stevens barn as safety and funding questions mount
Summary
At a joint work session, Dayton City park commissioners and council members debated whether to stabilize and preserve the deteriorating barn and silo at LC Stevens Park. Commissioners proposed a structural inspection and interim securing steps; a prior stabilization estimate of about $125,000 was cited.
A joint work session of Dayton City council and the park commission on May 28 focused in part on the future of a deteriorating barn and adjacent silo at LC Stevens Park and whether to invest in preservation or salvage.
Council member S9 urged immediate action, saying the commission “needs to do something with that barn,” and described the structure as not fitting the image of the park if left to decay. Park commission members acknowledged both the site’s heritage value and the limited funds available to fully restore it.
Park commission member S3 said a prior structural estimate placed stabilization costs at roughly $125,000 and recommended the next step be a structural engineer and building inspector assessment to determine what would be required to bring the building up to code or to salvage usable materials. “Structural engineer, building inspector, and see what we've got there,” S3 said.
Council member S2 and other members raised liability and safety concerns about allowing public access to a building with holes, open doors and apparent interior debris. “It looks like it’s a hazard,” S2 said, pressing the group to prioritize protecting park visitors. In response, staff member S8 told the meeting the city carries liability insurance on park buildings and that the commission should nevertheless take interim steps to secure the structure while options are evaluated.
Speakers proposed multiple paths: (1) pursue stabilization if engineering and budgets allow; (2) salvage hand‑hewn timbers and reuse them in a new structure or displays to honor the barn’s history; or (3) deconstruct the structure while preserving interpretive material. Council member S10 suggested reusing beams as architectural elements in new park facilities to retain heritage while reducing cost.
The conversation also included low‑cost interim steps to reduce risk: locking doors, improved fencing or temporary closures to help demonstrate the city acted to limit access. Park commission members noted children had been observed playing in the building recently, increasing the urgency of mitigation.
Beyond the barn itself, the discussion tied into broader LC Stevens planning: commissioners and some council members stressed the importance of aligning preservation options with the park master plan and available funding. Speakers reiterated that any full restoration would require more detailed cost estimates and potential grant or donor support.
Next steps recorded at the session: the commission will seek a structural engineer and building-inspector review and return findings to the council for a follow-up decision; commissioners also planned site visits with council members in early June to review priorities. The session did not include a formal motion or vote on stabilization or demolition.
