Dayton city council approved funding for facility improvements in two of the city’s parks Tuesday. The upgrades are part of an overall plan to improve parks throughout the city over the next couple of years.
Council approved the lowest bid of $111,300 from Total Home Care, a local Dayton company, to improve structures at Gil Lynn and Sargeant Parks. Improvements will include new roofs and siding on the garage, pavilion, concession stand, and bathrooms at Gil Lynn Park. The pavilion at Sargeant Park will undergo a similar upgrade.
Money for the project does not come from the city’s general fund, explained council member Joe Neary. The city charges a small ad valorem tax — .05 cents on each $100 of assessed valuation on real property — that goes directly to the Dayton Park Board Fund. The fund raises about $100,000 per year.
Parks projects have also benefited from grants and partnerships with area nonprofits such as the Cincinnati Off-Road Alliance, known as CORA, and Green Umbrella.
An advocate speaks for parks
Dayton resident Barry Baker serves on the city’s park board and has been advocating for the city’s parks and trail systems for several years. Council asked him to speak about the importance of improving and maintaining the city’s parks.
“I’ve been on the park board six years now, and two years ago, the parks committee got together to do an audit on all of our parks,” said Baker. “Each month, we met at each park and came up with a long-term plan and what needed to be done now.”
Gil Lynn Park is next to the Dayton City Schools property and is frequented by students for outdoor learning and recreation.
“We identified much-needed repairs at Gil Lynn Park,” Baker said. “Since Dayton High School has opened up that One Campus, we’ve started focusing on that as a major priority to come together with the school system.”
After that is Sargeant Park, which Baker said “had been neglected over 20-25 years,” and needs major improvements.
The community comes together
Baker noted the community efforts in the park and the work of CORA, Green Umbrella, Groundwork Ohio River Valley and even volunteers from the nearby Target store.
He addressed council directly to urge them to approve the bid so work on the parks could start soon.
“The much-needed budget money to be implemented on two parks, over $100,000,” said Baker. “I get kind of emotional seeing how this was 50 years ago and where it is now. It does get emotional.”
“We have a lot of young people coming into our city that would like to be out there in nature. And I think it’s what we need for our community. For our young kids to get out of the house, get off their gadgets, and get outside in nature where they can get sunlight and vitamin D.”
Council approved the funds for the park improvements. Plans for further improvements to all the city’s parks and trail system will be discussed at the city’s upcoming strategic planning session on April 12. The meeting is open to the public and runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Dayton Community Center at 625 2nd Ave.