Norwalk City Council hears park plan

NORWALK — Norwalk City Council on Tuesday discussed a proposal from Restore Norwalk to add a water-feature attraction to Suhr Family Park. The charitable organization has been working for the past two years to construct a small, recreational water amusement, known as a "splash pad." Those leading this effort spoke at the council meeting Tuesday at the Ernsthausen Center. "We started that project in early 2020," said Restore Norwalk's Matthew Dotson. He explained that movement on the project was delayed then by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that the idea behind the splash pad is to provide features on a concrete pad that spray water for children to play in during warm weather, without the hazard of drowning or the need for lifeguards. He said that the pad will include drainage to eliminate standing water. The splash pad will be user-activated and only provide water for a short period of time, rather than operate continuously. Norwalk Council President Steve Euton said that Mayor Dave Light has been working with Restore Norwalk to finalize the project, to be completely accomplished with donated funds, materials and services. Euton said he had heard questions from community members, regarding safety issues at the proposed splash pad. Light noted that safety and other requirements by the city must be satisfied before the project can be completed, including sidewalks, signage and additional fencing. Stephanie Spencer, of Restore Norwalk, addressed the council, noting that all donations of labor and materials for the project have been secured and work is ready progress. "As far as I know, we've reached all of our guidelines to make this project happen," she said. Euton asked how much money had been gathered for the splash pad project. Spencer said that the effort had originally planned to raise $200,000 for the project, but that that figure had been scaled down significantly. "We're right now at $60,000," she said. Project officials said that the splash pad has an expected life span of 30 years and that it is to be located south of the gazebo in Suhr Family Park. Additional sidewalks and fencing between the splash pad and restrooms already planned for the park, will be added to increase safety. Council approved the unrelated addition of restrooms to the park later in the meeting. When questioned by council members, Light noted that construction of the restrooms would take approximately eight weeks. Dotson said his organization is encouraged to see the splash pad project taking shape. Restore Norwalk started in its community efforts in 2017, with the annual Community Cookout event at the city reservoir. "Our big thing is bringing family-friendly events and amenities to the city of Norwalk," he said. Property sales Council also approved the sale of two small city properties. Two parcels of land — 201 Plank Rd. and 270 Milan Ave — will be sold to two individual private companies, according to Mitch Loughton, zoning inspector for the city. Loughton said that the Plank Road property has been home to the Norwalk Wastewater Treatment Company's North American Testing facility for several years, during which time, the property and facilities have been under lease. The city does maintain a portion of the property, which he said is 1.215 acre in size. Selling the site means the city will no longer need to continue to mow a part of the property and that the sale eliminates any legal liability for the land on the part of the city. The Milan Avenue parcel amounts to approximately one-tenth of an acre, Loughton said. He said that the sale allows Beck Suppliers of Fremont, to have frontage on Milan Avenue, adding it to a parking lot they currently own. Loughton said frontage is a requirement for Beck, which owns the adjacent Friendship gas station, to split the land from their property and sell it. Loughton said the sale of the land will allow for development by other business interests. "It helps economic development and we don't need the land," he said. The sale prices of the Plank Road and Milan Avenue parcels are listed by the city as $100,000 and $2,000, respectively. In other measures, Norwalk City Council approved the acceptance of a $750 donation from the Ohio Elks Association for the Norwalk Fire Department and the expenditure of $14,920 for council purposes. The Elks money was donated to purchase additional lights for city fire apparatus. The additional funds consist of $3,065 for codification of ordinances and $11,855 for the purpose of installing sound equipment permanently in the Ernsthausen Center community room and the installation of "stand and be heard" microphones for attendees to city council meetings.