In a media briefing on Monday Galion Mayor Tom O’Leary shared details for proposed improvements for the city, including a new bike path and plans for Uptowne Galion.
Mayor O’Leary and a committee will meet on Thursday, Aug. 14 to discuss and receive guidance on the design of a proposed bike path. The path is planned to wind by Amicks Reservoir, Hosford Road, along the Olentangy River, the Galion City Schools, and Heise Park. O’Leary hopes that this project could possibly utilize money from the Egbert M. Freese Foundation.
In the past, the funds allotted to the city from the foundation have been used to pay off debt after it went into fiscal emergency. The last of this will be payed off this year, and thus the money will be able to be used for parks and recreational purposes and improvements for the benefit of the community as it was originally intended. The mayor said he looks to see a few well-planned, large-impact, and high-quality projects come from this in 2015, and perhaps the foundation of larger scale projects for 2016 and beyond, as well.
On Friday, Aug. 15, city council will hold part two of a meeting open to the public. This meeting with Galion merchants will focus on how to continue improving Uptowne Galion. According to O’Leary the first meeting had very high attendance and saw a large amount of comments and input from Galionites.
These meetings share a theme that has resonated lately with Galion residents: needing to work to restore a sense of pride in our hometown. The mayor believes that these kind of community improvement projects can help restore citizens’ regard for the place they call home and their optimism for its future.