Police patrols curb problems at park in Perrysburg

7/17/2012
BY GABRIELLE RUSSON
BLADE STAFF WRITER

The problems at Three Meadows Park, where vandals smeared feces on the restroom walls and left broken glass, appear to be over, Perrysburg city officials said Monday.

The city amped up police patrols to the park last month after several problems were reported.

"One hundred ten percent improved," said Public Service Director Jon Eckel when he updated city council during a recreation committee meeting Monday. "Police cruising by once an hour has made a huge difference."

The man-made lake located off Three Meadows Drive near Sandusky Street, officially closed as a swimming pool three years ago because of sparse attendance, but has since grown in popularity as a fishing and gathering spot.

In other news, officials said they are considering building a new water facility at Rotary Community Park within the next several years.

The proposal for a splash pool geared for young children grew from reports that the city pool at Municipal Park has been crowded so far this summer, officials said.

From June 9 to July 13, the city recorded 7,951 people using the pool just during open swim. The city did not have any midseason attendance figures from previous years to compare.

Mr. Eckel said the city will start looking more closely at pool attendance numbers to decide when -- or if -- the city needs a second pool.

A splash pool-- which is significantly cheaper to build than an in-ground pool -- would be likely to cost $175,000 to $200,000, Mr. Eckel said.

Rotary Community Park is at 26350 Fort Meigs Rd.