The Bellefontaine Joint Recreation District Board of Trustees met in regular session Tuesday night and heard updates about several projects.
The meeting was called to order by President Pat Ellis, who asked the board to take a moment of silence for City Cemetery Department employee Bryan Dalrymple, who recently passed away after an eight-month battle with cancer.
The board also heard from the newly named Executive Director of the Simon Kenton Pathfinders, Bernie Iven. Irven told the board that the organization is looking to expand its reach to include more of the West Liberty and Bellefontaine areas. The Simon Kenton Trail’s northern starting point is located on Carter Street in Bellefontaine, running south through Ricketts Park in West Liberty, through Urbana, and further south into Clark County.
Iven said that the group is considering paving the portion of the trail between West Liberty and Bellefontaine. No timetable has been given for the work.
Parks Superintendent Rick Reed updated the board on several items:
- The Fall sports have concluded. Reed said the 5th- and 6th-grade tackle football team won the Little Mad River League title. He said 2nd- and 3rd-grade basketball assessments are complete, and teams are being drafted. He said that the 4th- through 6th-grade basketball assessments will begin this week.
- Bathrooms at Southview, Ratleff, Blue Jacket, and Harmon Parks are being winterized. He said that the main restrooms at Southview and Harmon will remain open for a while longer, as long as the parks are being used. Reed said he plans to get a porta-john at Southview once the main restroom is winterized.
- Reed provided the board members with detailed updates about the work at the Hoffman Pool. While the contractors continue to wait for permits from the Ohio Department of Health, the delay has not affected the work. Reed discussed the work at the pool:
Reed also said that seven trees were planted in conjunction with Jacob King from the OSU Extension Office and Joe Antram with the Bellefontaine Shade Tree Commission. They planted two trees at Southview and Blue Jacket and three along Bent Pines. Reed said they will plant more trees next year.
The board also discussed establishing clearer, more uniform guidelines for youth sports eligibility. After discussion, the board tabled the matter until its next meeting.
