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Nelsonville council agrees to explore buying portion of former Kroger parking lot for pocket park
Summary
A longtime Nelsonville resident proposed acquiring about 6,617 sq ft of a Kroger parking lot (Lot 48) to build a pocket park honoring the old Central School; council authorized an exploratory meeting with Athens County commissioners and asked staff to return with cost and title information.
A resident proposed that the city pursue buying a narrow strip of Lot 48—the parcel that was partly sold decades ago to Kroger—to create a downtown pocket park that would reclaim part of the former Central School frontage and provide a stage, history kiosk and landscaping. The proponent said the strip under discussion would be roughly 6,617 square feet and estimated initial site improvements could range from about $6,000 to $30,000 depending on scope and contractor estimates.
The resident, who presented historical research showing the parcel’s evolution since the 1800s, urged council to meet the Athens County commissioners to explore a lot split or purchase while the adjacent building remains for sale with a minimum bid of $800,000. Council members and staff identified several potential funding sources the presenter had flagged, including NatureWorks (ODNR), the Land and Water Conservation Fund, Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, and local community foundations, and noted some grant deadlines (a local fund cited with a Sept. 8 deadline and a county bid opening Aug. 4).
After discussion about timing, authority and next steps, council approved a nonbinding, exploratory delegation: a city manager (or designee) together with a council representative would meet with county commissioners to get preliminary pricing and title-split options. The motion was made during the meeting and received a second; staff was asked to obtain an appraisal, consult the auditor’s records and return with a survey estimate and any legal constraints before the council would consider financial commitments.
Why it matters: reclaiming part of a long-parcelled downtown lot would create public green space adjacent to downtown activity, could improve property values for the building still for sale and may qualify for multiple park or historic-preservation grants. The council’s vote does not obligate the city to purchase; it authorizes only exploratory discussions and fact-finding.
Next steps: staff will seek title and appraisal information, arrange an exploratory meeting with Athens County commissioners and report back to council with cost estimates and available grant timelines.
