MANSFIELD ─ Richland County Land Bank is accepting a donation of 10 park properties from the City of Mansfield. While the transfer is still in the process, developers and neighbors around those parks have been thinking about buying these properties for future use.

Per Mansfield City Council’s decision last month, 10 unutilized or under-utilized parks would be transferred to the Land Bank. Hamilton Park, with an area of 26.5 acres, is the largest among these properties. The rest are one to three acres in size.

Amy Hamrick, the Land Bank’s manager, said Wednesday some neighbors of these parks are looking forward to splitting up the properties for their use. Developers also see the potential here.

“A couple of developers aren’t ready to take the ownership yet, but they’ve expressed interest in every park that I have,” Hamrick said.  

She also told Richland Source that once the Land Bank receives deeds from the city, it will contact all the neighbors around those parks.

“I want to be fair to everyone that touches it,” she said.

Four of the 10 parks have playground equipment on site. The board discussed if the Land Bank should have an insurance company checking the equipment and getting them insured.

Mansfield mayor Tim Theaker, one of the board directors, said he doubts the equipment would pass the company’s inspection and suggested to “tear them up and dispose of them as much as possible.”

He mentioned the city has started replacing playground equipment in other parks. In so doing, the frequently found the cost to repair is simply too high.

The board agreed to get an estimate on removing all the equipment and make a decision in the next meeting.

Additionally, the board voted to add Barrett Thomas, Director of Economic Development at Richland Area Chamber and Economic Development, to the Land Bank’s Special Consideration Committee.

Bart Hamilton, chair of the board and Richland County Treasurer, said the board hopes Thomas will help come up with some plans for the transfer of park properties. Also, since the Land Bank is working on building more apartment buildings, Thomas would be able to bring in more contractors.

Hamilton said the Land Bank only has one contractor.

“Let’s find somebody who’s a professional with this and bring him in,” he said.