MANSFIELD — Could a new public pool be in the city’s future?
Mayor Jodie Perry is at least considering the possibility.
“We have talked about West Park Shopping Plaza being bought locally,” Perry told City Council on Tuesday evening. “We are going to kick off a public pool feasibility study here this spring.
The largest city in Richland County has had no public swimming pool since the Liberty Park facility closed permanently in August 2021 due to major maintenance issues.
Dan and Brenda Niss bought the failed strip mall along Park Avenue West in January.
Dan Niss said he and his wife didn’t have concrete plans for the 17-acre site at 1157 Park Ave. West along the “Miracle Mile.”
“It’s been such an eyesore these past few years,” said Dan Niss, a local business owner, entrepreneur and philanthropist.
“We felt like we should do something with it and help clean up that area.”
Part of the plan could be donating or selling a portion of the site to the city for some type of aquatic center.
“I think that West Park would be a nice spot for that,” Perry said Tuesday.
“We’ll be looking at the public pool in general, how big we want to make it. Obviously, if we’re going to take a step in that direction, that it’s gonna be sustainable throughout many, many years to come,” the mayor said. “So more to come on that.
“But we have a great person that does these studies all across the country. We have a meeting with him later this week.
“Council, we will definitely want you active and involved (in the process), as well as the whole community,” the mayor said.
It’s not the first time the mayor has broached the topic with local lawmakers.
In May 2025, Perry told members of council she had recently met with a consultant who could conduct a feasibility study on the project.
That analysis could help guide city officials on where to put a public pool, how much it would cost and other details needed to proceed with the potential project.
In other council activity Tuesday:
— Lawmakers unanimously approved a resolution honoring Mansfield Fire Department Assistant Chief Rob Garn, who retired Feb. 2 after 25 years.
Garn, who joined the MFD on July 22, 2000, after serving in the U.S. Navy for six years, was promoted to lieutenant in 2014, captain in 2021 and assistant chief in 2024.
He told lawmakers he was retiring because his wife had recently obtained a position with the VA Clinic in Grand Junction, Colo.
“(Otherwise) I would be staying until my time is up,” he said.
“I appreciate all you have done for us … for me. Thanks for all of the support I have here this evening,” Garn said.
— Lawmakers unanimously approved seeking property easements needed to replace a 126-year-old municipal bridge on the north side. A project to replace the Sixth Street bridge just east of Bowman Street is estimated to cost $996,567 with 95 percent covered by federal/state grant dollars.
The price tag includes design and construction costs.
It will replace a double-arch span over Touby Run that was built in 1900.
City of Mansfield engineer Bob Bob Bianchi said construction would begin in August and be complete by the end of October.
Lawmakers also unanimously:
— approved the appointment of Aphordia Deshea Harris to the Mansfield Public Arts Commission for a three-year term that begins Aug. 1.
— voted to pay Bricker Graydon LLP $14,321.21 through a “then-and-now” certificate. Legal services related to economic development were provided to the city’s industrial development department before a purchase order was submitted.
— voted to approve the continued use of GovDeals Inc. to sell unneeded, obsolete and unfit property through internet auction. The city has used GovDeals since 2004.
— give a first read to legislation that would approve spending $1,156,948 to purchase a new Pierce Impel Pumper Fire Truck for the MFD. The legislation would allow the city to enter into a term loan agreement not to exceed 10 years and shall be paid from the MFD capital equipment fund.
— voted to appoint 2nd Ward Councilwoman Cheryl Meier to the Richland County Regional Planning Commission Metropolitan Planning Organization to complete the unexpired term of former 3rd Ward Councilman Rev. El Akuchie.