Amusement Park or Findlay $40 Million Park?
BY PATTY KLEIN
FINDLAY - A Findlay Parks and Recreation meeting was held on October 3. Mayor Muryn presented committee members with digital renditions from park designer, Human Nature, Inc that detailed several ideas for the controversial Findlay Downtown Recreation Area which includes many elaborate park structures. The park has been a controversial topic in Findlay since the area had been used by chemical facilities. Chemicals found in the soil required testing and remediation that the city says now makes the area safe for residents and children to play.
Unlike most city meetings, this meeting was not televised, delaying any opportunity for residents to view the concepts until now. Minutes from the October parks and recreation meeting were not included in the city council packet until the December 3 City Council meeting. Four requests were made before the Mayor’s slideshow was released by a public record request.
Design proposals included drawings for a bridge, amphitheater, skateboard park, and restroom facility structures.
Let’s play a game. Which of the photos below are elements of Cedar Point Amusement Park and which photos are renditions of the Findlay $40 million park elements?
It appears that Mayor Muryn’s Downtown Entertainment District will be quite spectacular with a price tag to match. The correct answer to the quiz is that photos A,E,G and H are Findlay park concepts.
Mayor Muryn’s slide show presentation included 3 proposed bridge concepts, 3 amphitheater concepts, as well as a skateboard park concept and restroom facility digital drawings. Muryn described a court of pillars that would welcome guests, reminding them of the past, present and future of the community. Muryn is considering a free splash pad play area since the splash pad at Riverside Park requires a fee to enter the park and pool area.
Two playground areas are being included in the project. One is described as a standard playground and the other is a more natural play area.
The park is part of a floodplain project along the bank of the Blanchard river. Engineering firm Stantec has been implementing benching along the river to reduce flooding with the city. Construction of the park is not projected to begin until 2027.
One element, a bridge across the Blanchard River would lead to a dog park on the other side. Though the meeting minutes did not include costs for each element, Councilwoman Frische, at the December 3rd council meeting, clarified for the record that a price tag of $8 million was the estimated cost of the “iconic” bridge to the dog park according to Mayor Muryn.
Three amphitheater designs were presented to council members. Since the park is located in a flood zone, a walk through design was presented.
Concepts for a high end restroom building were also presented to the committee. Muryn is suggesting that the restrooms be left open year round.
Muryn insisted that all of the designs presented at the meeting were to simply narrow the scope as they look at elements to help refine the cost. Muryn has insisted that the $40 million nickname for the park is not accurate because the funding will not all come from local taxpayers. Grants and donations will be considered.
The complete minutes and concepts from the Park and Recreation meeting can be viewed here:
https://www.findlayohio.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/16635/638682329580370000
