Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Master Plan topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Plain City to issue Parks Master Plan RFP focused on Pastime Park and recently acquired Ranco property
Summary
Council and staff agreed to pursue an RFP for a Parks Master Plan that will prioritize Pastime Park and the recently acquired Ranco property (referred to as 'TBD Park'). Staff expects the RFP to open on BidExpress.com (Jan. 5, 2026) and the plan to be finalized by the end of 2026.
Plain City Council and staff on Nov. 5 moved forward with plans to solicit proposals for a Parks Master Plan that will concentrate on Pastime Park and the recently acquired Ranco property, which staff currently refers to as “TBD Park.”
Council President M. Terry said the RFP “will primarily focus on the recently acquired Ranco property, currently known as ‘TBD Park’, as well as Pastime Park.” Village Administrator Haley Lupton outlined the expected scope of services, which includes community engagement meetings, site surveys, conceptual plans, and cost estimates, and said the RFP is expected to open on BidExpress.com on Jan. 5, 2026 and close on Feb. 6, 2026. Lupton said her expectation is that the plan will be finalized by the end of 2026.
Council discussed desired amenities and the selection process for a consultant. Councilmember A. Lewis encouraged staff to include Council’s preference for athletic facilities at TBD Park. Mr. Terry proposed a temporary advisory committee composed of staff, Parks and Recreation Committee members, representatives of the Plain City Area Ball Association and Jonathan Alder Soccer Association, and two Councilmembers to advise selection and project vision. Mr. Eudaily urged staff to “consider opening the RFP process in December so as not to compete with the Ohio Department of Transportation’s annual programmatic release in January.”
Council, by unanimous consent, agreed the RFP should be posted as soon as possible with a preference for a December posting and closing in January 2026; staff noted the formal RFP posting is planned for BidExpress in January. The Director of Finance, Renee Sonnett, said large improvement projects would most likely be financed through bond sales and that staff will coordinate with the village’s financial advisor on financing options. Council also discussed whether to pause the annual $100,000 allocation to the land acquisition fund to free money for park development; no final financing decision was recorded at the meeting.
Next steps: staff will publish the RFP on the stated timeline, return recommendations for consultant selection (with Council involvement on the evaluation committee), and proceed with a Parks Master Plan process that staff expects to complete by the end of 2026.
