Joyell Nevins
Record Herald Editor
Courtesy of the Record Herald; Printed 9.22.13
WEST MILTON – Ready, set, vote! West Milton residents have from now until Milton-Union High’s Homecoming Oct. 4 to vote for the name of the park that will sit where the former elementary and middle school was.
The Parks Board whittled the nomination pool of 33 different names given by community members to a top six at its meeting Wednesday night. Bulldog Central Memorial Park, Bulldog Central Park, Bulldog Park, Bulldog Memorial Park, Milton Memorial Park, and Old School Park are the choices that will be presented to the community starting Monday. To get to the final six, board members first eliminated any names that honored one specific person.
“We will be naming certain aspects of the park after significant citizens,” board and council member Susan Willis explained.
So once the park is developed, there could be a gazebo in Ed Lendenski’s honor, a section of trees named after Don Allen, or a bench dedicated to Marc Cole, as some hypothetical examples.
From there, the board chose the names that were nominated the most, and a couple that they felt encompassed what the park would represent, to present to the voting public.
Municipal Manager Matt Kline likened this process to American Idol, as he encourages residents to “vote early and vote often.” Locals can vote for their favorite name as many times as they like. They can go to www.westmiltonohio.gov; come to the Firemen’s Waffles fundraiser on Sept. 27; stop by the municipal office at 701 S. Miami St. or call the office at (937) 698-1500. Ballots are also available at these local businesses: McDonalds, Pearson House, Brick House, Wertz’s Hardware, Fox’s Pizza, Wertz’s Variety, Skippers, Dollar General, Mr. Deal’s, Subway, Tom’s Pizza, Diana’s Pizza, City Hall, Bulldog Diner, Milton-Union Public Library, IGA, and Owl Drugs.
The last chance to vote will be before the homecoming game at Memorial Stadium Oct. 4. Board members Susan Willis, John Cloud, Mark Pricer and Allen Brown will be manning the voting booth and answering residents’ questions from 6:30 p.m. until kickoff. The new name for the park will be officially announced at the West Milton council meeting Oct. 8.
Master plan
A name is important, but what will go in the park? Kline and Supervisor of Streets and Grounds Ben Herron are reviewing proposals from three different design firms: Jacyn Design Group out of Sidney, and Edsall & Associates and MKSK out of Columbus. Each of the groups was interviewed and taken around to see the other parks in West Milton before submitting its final number.
“I’m very tickled with the price,” Kline informed the board.
Seven-thousand dollars has been set aside in the 2014 budget to pay for a design plan, and so far two of the three firms are under that figure (the third has yet to submit a final cost).
After a thorough review, Kline and Herron will make their recommendation to the board of which firm to hire. The goal is to have a plan developed by early 2014, and applying for grants in the spring. Kline pointed out that all three firms have extensive experience in grant writing.
Also come spring, Herron plans to have the north tennis court by Memorial Stadium converted into three basketball courts. The posts will stay, the area will be paved, pressure washed and repainted before opened for use.
Herron also showed a rendition of the 24×18 sign that will be displayed at the completed courts. The sign has the city logo and the words “Suspicious Activity? Call 911” in an effort to forestall vandalism.
He and Kline have discussed “down the road” also putting in pyramid bleachers, so observers can sit and watch the basketball games and three-on-threes that are sure to break out.
On the other side of the park, the curb by the old bus exit for the elementary and middle school will be fixed with the remaining street asphalt project budget money, according to Herron. He said that should be completed by the end of the next year.
The next Park Board meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16 in the municipal building.
###
