New quarry park part of 2018 budget

New developments in Pickerington Ponds Metro Park, and a new Metro Park being carved out of a quarry site, are among the projects planned for 2018 and funded in the budget the park district’s board approved Tuesday.

Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks commissioners unanimously approved a $31.8 million budget, close to $2 million less than the $33.5 million the district is expected to spend this year.

Among the big projects slated for 2018:

Building a road, a parking lot near Dublin Road, trails and an observation deck at a waterfall, plus fences and signs, at the new Metro Park at the Marble Cliff quarry. Total cost: $1 million, with $500,000 coming from Metro Parks and $500,000 from the state.

The park board voted this month to spend $1.86 million to acquire a 62-acre quarry site at the Marble Cliff Quarry that will become the district’s 20th park. The district plans to acquire more property next year to increase the park to 220 acres. The entire site is 607 acres; Wagenbrenner Development plans to develop a mix of housing, retail and commercial-office space at the site, and it is receiving Columbus city tax breaks to do so.

Rerouting part of the Camp Chase Trail through

Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park. Total cost: $1.04 million, with $615,000 coming from the state’s Clean Ohio Trail Fund and $425,000 from Metro Parks.

Building a bridge, a road, a parking lot and trails, boardwalks, shelters, displays and restrooms at the Burning Lake area of Pickerington Ponds Metro Park. Total cost: $950,000.

Constructing at least one observation deck/tower at Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park so visitors can more easily see the bison there, as well as birds at the Kuhlwein Road wetlands.

It’s basically a status- quo budget, Executive Director Tim Moloney said. He will be paid $ 135,660, a 2 percent raise from from his $ 133,000 salary this year. The average merit raise for staff members will be 1.75 percent in 2018, Maloney said.

“The increase (in) the number of people coming to the parks is phenomenal,” said Greg Lashutka, board chairman. This year’s attendance will top 10 million

at the district’s 19 parks, plus users of the Greenways trails, Heritage Bike Trail, camps and Blacklick Woods Golf Course.

Capital costs came in higher than projected in 2017 because of projects that were carried over from 2016, Moloney said. That is why next year’s budget is lower.

The golf course, near Reynoldsburg, continues to run at an operating deficit, projected to be $123,866 this year and $196,750 next year. Moloney said. The district will try to generate new revenue to close that gap, including a new rental facility for weddings and other events, Commissioner Jim McGregor said.

In 2014 and 2015, the district had to shift $215,000 from its general fund to cover expenses.