Public opinion is cyclical, with attitudes changing as populations shift and evolve, Bainbridge Township trustees observed Sept. 16 during the second of two special meetings to discuss the future of playgrounds at the four township parks.
Public opinion is cyclical, with attitudes changing as populations shift and evolve, Bainbridge Township trustees observed Sept. 16 during the second of two special meetings to discuss the future of playgrounds at the four township parks.
Trustees said they were surprised to learn recently that several residents — concerned the township removed failing playground equipment from popular River Road Park — have been using social media to demand the equipment be replaced.
“When we took down the playground equipment at Settlers’ Park a few years ago, no one even commented,” Trustee Lorrie Sass Benza said at the Sept. 16 meeting.
At the time the playground was removed at Settlers’ Park, Trustee Jeff Markley said children do not play outside anymore, preferring to play video games inside. When trustees discovered the playground equipment at Settlers’ Park was no longer safe, they ordered it removed.
“A few years back, trustees put a levy on the ballot for a new rec center and it failed miserably,” Markley said. “At that time, crowds came to the trustee meetings, said they were opponents of the parks and made it clear that no one wanted parks. I don’t think that’s the case anymore.”
Trustees said they were amazed at the reaction on social media when they removed the unsafe playground equipment at River Road Park last month, and more than 100 calls and emails they received from angry parents who showed a lack of understanding about how township government works.
As a result, trustees decided to hold two special meetings — one on a Saturday morning and another on a Monday night — to accommodate residents’ schedules. At each meeting, trustees and Fiscal Officer Janice Sugarman explained what townships can and cannot do under the Ohio Revised Code, and how township finances work.
Trustees then took questions and comments from the audience. At the first meeting, Sept. 7, three residents told trustees they would be willing to form a playground committee to explore options on replacing the equipment, the cost of building playgrounds at the other parks and how to fund the playgrounds.
“It’s exciting to see residents come forward in community outreach,” Trustee Kristina O’Brien said, adding she would like to see the River Road playground replaced with something similar to what was there originally.
Resident Jayaprakash Ayyappan said his wife, Andrea, has begun a playground committee on Facebook called “Support River Road Park.”
“We hope to set up a meeting within the next two weeks,” he said, listing the following as the committee’s topics for discussion: Whether to replace the equipment with something similar, or to expand; what the budget should be; how to raise the funds; whether to partner with an existing 501 (c) (3) charity; and whether to build playgrounds at the other township parks.
“My opinion is to start small and expand later,” he told trustees, adding his 7-year-old daughter looks for something to do while her older sibling plays soccer.
“Without anything for her to do, she just rolled around in the dirt,” he told trustees, to laughter from the audience.
Markley said it is important to note River Road Park serves the entire community, not just the adjacent Canyon Lakes development, contrary to comments he has seen on social media.
Ayyappan said he has been in contact with a local business interested in donating to the project, and has been researching possible grants that are available. Asking residents for a small parks levy could also be an option.
“Your energy is infectious,” Markley told him.
“To see the community step forward is thrilling to me,” O’Brien added.
Resident Roger Weiss, who recently headed a committee that successfully raised money last year and built a popular dog park at Centerville Mills, told Ayyappan his committee is approaching the issue correctly.
“The idea of starting small is a good one,” Weiss said. “You have to have something definitive to propose before you start raising money. Success builds on success.”
