The Board of Trustees of the Bellefontaine Joint Recreation District got up close and personal with Fred Carter Park at their monthly meeting Tuesday night. The board visited the park, and the trustees were given a tour by Bellefontaine resident Terry Lunz. While Lunz has no official title, Superintendent Kris Myers said that the time and dedication Terry and his wife have shown the park are inspirational.
In fact, during the meeting, Lunz said that he and his wife are pledging $20,000 as seed money to get the lake at the park dredged.
The board also approved payment of the bills for June and July, with Myers informing them that all projects started or completed so far are being done within their respective budgets.
Bellefontaine council member Mackenzie Fitzpatrick, who acts as the Parks representative on the city council, updated the trustees on two enrichment camps that Journey Nature School recently held. Fitzpatrick, who is the Founder, Program Director, and School Manager at Journey, said that 15 children attended the camps.
Fitzpatrick discusses the collaboration efforts between the parks department and Journey Nature School to offer more family-friendly activities:
For more information about upcoming enrichment activities, visit the Journey Nature School website.
In his report, Superintendent Myers told the trustees that soccer practices are going on, and the football and flag football numbers are very good. He thanked the many volunteers who make these sports happen season after season.
He also thanked the mowing crews who have worked very hard this season.
The materials for the wetlands project at Myeerah have been ordered. Unfortunately, according to Myers, the weather has pushed the work at Myeerah back, but he remains optimistic that the work will be done this year. He reminded the trustees that all funds spent on the wetlands project are slated to be reimbursed by a state H2O Ohio grant.
Myers also informed the trustees that the closing of the pool at Rutan Park will be on August 23 instead of over Labor Day weekend. This is primarily due to staffing issues, with pool employees returning to high school or college in the next few weeks. He also said that the swim lessons offered at the pool this season have received positive reviews.
Myers told the trustees that his office has received three responses from area design firms for the pool redesign, and he would like to have the interviews to select a design firm by mid-September.
The Harmon Park project will be going out to bid soon, with the goal of the work being completed by Memorial Day, 2026. Also, the restroom project needs to be inspected, and the concrete work at Oakland Square should be completed in the next few weeks.
The next meeting of the Board of Trustees will be on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at 7:00 PM.
