City details Play Space plan moving forward

The city of Avon Lake will move forward on a plan to construct a new playground at Bleser Park, 32800 Electric Blvd., with the administration providing updates on the process

Parks and Recreation Director Tim Pinchek told Avon Lake City Council on Oct. 4 that the project known as the Avon Lake Play Space is hoping to have shovels in the ground in early 2022, with a design concept coming before Council in November.

A committee consisting of Pinchek, Council members and the administration looked at different playground options at a July meeting.

Pinchek said the committee examined different playgrounds currently in use at area parks systems at that meeting and decided to invite four companies that have worked well with the city to make proposals.

“Specifically, we met with all four companies downstairs in the public works conference room,” he said. “We described the project timeline, the budget and what the city was looking for.

“We’re looking for the wow factor. We’re looking for a destination. We’re looking for a focal point in our community.

“We really wanted this to be very unique, unlike anything else in the area compared to other cities.”

Pinchek added the committee invited all four companies on Aug. 17, two and a half weeks later, to present their design concepts.

He said Midstates Recreation of Pataskala gave the committee the “wow factor” it was looking for, pointing to the unique design work, a ropes course addition and the additions that would make the park an asset.

Blake Hobson, president of Midstates Recreation, told Council his company operates in five states and emphasize creating an inclusive experience.

“We focus on inclusion … I think today, lots of folks use the word, but I’m not sure that everyone really applies it properly or understands what they’re saying,” Hobson said. “Because inclusion is about everyone, not just the child with a disability.

“Our goal is to create a place that everyone wants to come back to, and that everyone can participate and have a good experience.”

Council will consider a motion on Oct. 12 for the provider of the playground equipment.

Pinchek said the city will undergo a public engagement process through community surveys and discussions with Avon Lake City Schools.

If Council approves the motion, a second public meeting Oct. 27 and Oct. 28 will review survey feedback.

The formal concept for the park would be presented to Council’s Parks and Recreation Committee on Nov. 10.

The green light by the Parks and Recreation Committee, sets up a potential Council vote as early as Nov. 20.

If all goes according to plan, the city could demolish the current playground in November, and placing an order for the playground equipment in December with a target date of Memorial Day 2022 for the completion of phase one of the project.

Project concerns

Gregory Beck, an Avon

Lake resident and president/owner of ParkPlay Solutions, was part of the proposal process.

Beck heavily criticized the city for the proposal process and asked for a meeting with the administration to address his concerns.

Citing Ohio Revised Code, Beck argued Avon Lake violated the request for the proposal process and failed to release clear guidelines.

“There was no formal request for proposal put out by this community,” he said. “It was an informal request.

“But by law, you are required to have that open; you are required to post that on the city’s website; you are required to follow a certain protocol. Anything that you achieve or any direction that you take, or anything that you put into place after that process is flawed, must be questioned.”

Formally requesting a meeting with Mayor Greg Zilka and Law Director Gary Ebert, Beck said he wanted to address the situation privately to go over evidence “which could potentially implicate some people.”

Beck said if these issues are not addressed in a satisfactory way, his company would file for injunctive relief to halt the project, seeking an independent third party investigation to determine if anything inappropriate had occurred.

“I think that’s fair,” he said. “I think that is a legal request, and I want to prepare you for the fact that this is not going away.

“You have a responsibility as citizens of this community to act within the rules of the state. I want to thank you for your time. Appreciate it, and I hope you guys do the right thing.”