ONTARIO ─ Improvement projects are coming to Ontario’s Marshall and Stowell Parks.
Ontario City Council’s park committee met on Wednesday evening before the general council meeting. Discussions went from multiple projects that the city is going to execute this year to making a three- or five-year park improvement plan.
Mayor Randy Hutchinson said the city will move the south part of Cal Miller Lane at Marshall Park slightly to the west, following the Clear Fork Mohican River as close as possible. Current pavement south from Dunlap Drive will be ground out. The parking lot will be on the east of the road, next to the soccer field.
Hutchinson said spectators now have to park on the west of Cal Miller Lane and cross the road to the soccer field, which might cause a safety issue.
“We put in crosswalks. We put up signs. But kids are running back and forth all the time. By putting the drive over here (slightly to the west). It’ll make it safer for our kids and everybody,” he said.
The city will bid out the project and start the construction after the spring soccer season. The engineer’s estimate is $250,000 to $275,000.
Another improvement at Marshall Park will include a walking path on the north side close to the baseball fields. Hutchinson said people walk around the park all the time. The path will allow people to enjoy their walk away from the roads.
Ontario started an improvement project at Stowell Park last year. One of the softball fields has been transformed into a playground. The fence has been taken out. The city installed a swing set. Hutchinson said playground mulch will be put when weather permits.
The city will also install two pickleball courts at the park. It is considering building a basketball court in the future. Hutchinson said there are many condominiums and apartments around the park. The playground, pickleball courts and the remaining softball field will provide kids in the area some space to play.
Council also voted to authorize the city’s Service-Safety Director, Jeff Wilson, to work with Mansfield on the Home Road paving project. Wilson said the dividing line between Ontario and Mansfield is in the middle of Home road. It wouldn’t make sense for the two cities to pave the road separately.
The joint project will be on the part of Home Road between Walker Lake Road and Park Avenue West. Wilson said this is a much-needed improvement. Ontario will probably share $120,000 to $140,000 of the project cost, depending on the needed repairs. Mansfield will prepare the document and bid out the project.
With much more snow in Ohio this year, road crews spend more time clearing the roads. Wilson said this year Ontario has plowed more snow than two previous seasons combined.
He reminded car owners that parking is not allowed on the streets when the snow accumulation exceeds two inches.
