By CECILIA FOX
Record Herald Writer
Courtesy of the Record Herald; Printed 1.18.13
TIPP CITY — The next big development for the Tipp City parks could be a park ranger.
The Tipp City Parks Advisory Board met Monday night and discussed the merits of hiring a ranger to patrol the city’s parks.
Citing vandalism and reports of misuse at some of the city’s parks, board member Doug Slagel proposed that the city look into hiring a part-time park ranger sometime in the next few years.
According to Slagel, who used information from Sidney’s parks department, a seasonal part-time park ranger would cost the city about $18-20,000 a year.
But, Slagel said, having someone to keep an eye on the parks is going to become a necessity.
Parks superintendent Jim Asher agreed, saying that hiring a ranger to patrol the parks could only benefit the city.
“I think it’s needed. It can only make things better,” Asher said.
The city’s parks host many events, from sports tournaments to festivals, and the number of events grows every year. Many groups come from all over the Miami Valley to use Tipp City parks.
Asher said that the city gets more and more calls every year from groups interested in hosting events in the parks, including sports clubs from Englewood, Dayton and Huber Heights.
Right now no one is checking the parks regularly, but reports of misuse and unauthorized events still get back to the city, said Kathy Taylor of Tipp Monroe Community Services. She agreed that hiring a park ranger could keep people from using park shelters and hosting sports tournaments without permission.
Board members agreed that a park ranger could not only help to cut back on misuse and vandalism, but could also help keep the parks safer for Tipp City residents.
Board member Kelly Gillis proposed the board take the next year to observe the parks and examine the need for a park ranger before making any decisions. Other members agreed, but suggested the board bring the idea to city council first.
“Plant the seed now,” board member Pamela Hale said.
The board also discussed the five-year parks capital improvement plan from city council, which budgets about $570,000 for the parks over the next five years. Board members described the plan as “very generous.”
Some of the improvements planned for the parks include replacing equipment and adding rubber safety surfacing to the city’s playgrounds as well as making improvements to the Roundhouse at City Park.
The board also heard an update about this year’s Canal Music Festival from J.J. Slanker of the Area Arts Council. This year the event will be expanded to include three more concerts in a variety of musical genres ranging from bluegrass to chamber music. The festival will be June 8 at the City Park Roundhouse and will feature Phil Dirt and the Dozers and Seventh Street, a local band.
Nick Webb also provided the board with an update on the Relay for Life fund raising bike tour that he has planned for July 20. The tour will begin in Troy at Hobart Arena and cyclists will travel south towards Tipp. The final rest stop will be in City Park.
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