Wood County park projects share $100,000

10/12/2011

BOWLING GREEN -- A wooden gazebo that will pay tribute to those killed in the 2010 tornado in Lake Township is among the projects that are to receive financial boosts from the Wood County Park District.

Park commissioners have approved grants totaling $100,000 for projects in Wood County communities. Neil Munger, park district director, said the money comes from the 1-mill operating levy approved by county voters in support of the park district.

"It's just something the board has committed to ever since our very first levy," he said. "They said our focus is mostly natural resource oriented, but there's definitely a need in all the communities around the county for recreational facilities."

The village of Millbury was awarded $2,575 to use toward a gazebo in Veterans Memorial Park, 28355 Fostoria Rd.

The largest project funded was in Bowling Green, where the city plans to build a sidewalk along State Rt. 64 to the Bowling Green Community Center on Newton Road. Bowling Green was awarded $14,815 for sidewalk construction and $5,900 toward a boardwalk. Other communities that received grants were:

Haskins, $1,300 for portable soccer goals and $375 for a coin-operated light switch.

Lake Township, $10,500 for a parking lot addition and $2,965 for bleachers and benches.

Luckey, $2,206 for handicapped-accessible swings and $1,485 for park benches.

Pemberville, $2,907 for pool lounge chairs.

Perrysburg, $5,006 for a disc golf course and $876 to install exercise equipment.

Perrysburg Township, $5,734 for playground equipment.

Risingsun, $14,511 to rehab a walking/running track.

Rossford, $11,570 to resurface two baseball fields.

Tontogany, $3,786 for safety surfacing and $1,728 for an adjustable basketball goal.

Walbridge, $2,172 to replace play equipment.

Wayne, $3,064 for safety netting for baseball.

Weston, $6,525 for parking lot paving.

Mr. Munger said the projects were selected by park professionals from outside the county -- one each from Toledo Area Metroparks, the Hancock Park District, and Sandusky County Park District.

Mr. Munger told park commissioners the Pemberville fire department had agreed to use a house owned by the park district at William Henry Harrison Park in Pemberville for training and burn it down next month. He said the house, which had not been rented out for several years, needed new windows, a new roof, a new furnace, and other work.