Bellefontaine Parks Superintendent Rick Reed expressed his thanks to countless volunteers who play a vital role in the activities put on by the Bellefontaine Parks Department in the Parks Trustees meeting on Tuesday night. Case in point, said Reed, were the dozens of volunteers that assisted with the Midwest Baseball Tournament held this past weekend.
Reed praised the efforts of volunteers who manned the concession stands at the three parks, where 66 teams played over 100 games. In addition, Reed gave special thanks to Jeremy Levan and Gary Alexander for the hours they spend making the parks special. To his point, Reed said that Levan took it upon himself to make repairs to the surface at Play at the Peak.
Reed discussed the importance of volunteers:
Reed also updated the board on the recent allocation of TIF Funds authorized by the Bellefontaine City Council, which will go toward the Harmon Park Pour-In-Place surfacing and dugout covers. TIF Funds are funds local governments use to subsidize redevelopment and certain infrastructure improvements.
Reed informed the board that the recent unexpected replacement of the HVAC system at Myreeah used up most of the allocated funds for the preserve. Reed said the council might need to allocate more money to the preserve fund if additional expenditures are needed.
After discussion with the crews working at Harmon Park, Reed said he hoped for a mid-June opening for the park. He said he would like to have a celebration and official opening, including recognizing citizens who have played a role in maintaining the park over the years. Reed said he will select a date once an expected completion date is determined.
Reed also noted that the damaged pickleball court surface is under warranty and will be replaced soon.
The next meeting of the Bellefontaine Joint Recreation District Trustees will be on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 7:00 PM at Harmon Field.
