The Bellefontaine Joint Recreation District Trustees met for the first time in 2024 and heard about winter sports and spring baseball and softball tournaments.
Parks Superintendent Kris Myers told the board that he was notified by the city council that the committee assignments had been made. For 2024, Councilman Nick Davis has been named the Parks Board council representative. Myers said that Daivs has a passion for parks, and spent time working as a member of the Trump Administration with the Department of the Interior.
Council President Pat Ellis also informed the trustees that the council approved the ballot initiative for the levy for the March primary.
In his report to the trustees, Recreation Coordinator Tim Hales said that winter sports are all in full swing, having taken time off for the holidays. He said that basketball games will resume this weekend and the wrestling schedule has been completed, with matches held primarily on Sundays. He also reported that the adaptive bowling program is up to a record of 20 kids.
Hales also told the trustees about the resounding success of the Letters to Santa program. He said that 55 letters were sent to area children from the North Pole this year. Hales discusses the Letters to Santa program:
Myers said that the Winter Walking Program began this week. (See the full schedule below.) He also said that they have outsourced the hosting of spring and summer softball and baseball tournaments for this year and registration is open now. Myers talks about the upcoming tournaments:
Myers also presented the trustees with a capital funds request that the city council has asked for. Among the items requested were a replacement pickup truck at Southview and a replacement for a mower at the cemetery. Additionally, plans are being made to refurbish the restrooms at Ratleff and Rutan parks. Myers stressed that these were requests only.
He also said that several trees have been recently planted: nine trees were planted on North Detroit, three memorial trees were planted throughout the city, and five shade trees were planted at Bluejacket Park. The Bellefontaine Shade Tree Commission helped with those trees.
Myers also told the trustees that there is approximately $170,000 remaining in the budget that has been earmarked to widen the walking path at Bluejacket Park. he said that $120,000 of that total would be reimbursed from the State once the work is completed. The target date for completion of the work is June 15th.
The February meeting will be held on January 30th at 7:00 PM in council chambers.
