Nick McWilliams reporting – Both grass parking lots of the Southside Community Park have opened, but will likely be closed off for the foreseeable future.
Mayor Joel Day updated council at their latest meeting about the two lots, with the first around the pollinator garden and restrooms, and the second near the dog park.
While the lots were installed with a geogrid to stabilize the soil and a grassy surface per Clean Ohio grant rules, Day says that the city will likely have to bring the contractor back in soon.
“After I wrote [the mayor’s report,] I went down to the park and both parking lots are mud. I talked with Service Director [Ron] McAbier about it, and probably what we’re going to have to do is have the contractor come back, reseed it, fertilize it, cover it with straw, and close those two parking lots until the grass can regrow in.”
Day did not say when the lots would likely close, nor for how long, but he did say that when open, the public is urged to utilize the spaces for parking to prevent soil and grass damage in other parts of the park.
The park opened last year through grant funding and donations, and is expected to expand in the future with sports fields, covered shelter areas, and more.
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