Gahanna Parks & Recreation Board Meeting - March 9, 2026

The Gahanna Parks & Recreation Board met at Gahanna City Hall Council Chambers. The agenda packet is dated February 18, 2026, while the supplied meeting metadata says March 9, 2026; this summary follows the supplied date. Members Eric Miller, Donna Simmons, Chrissy Kaminski, Jan Ross, and Ken Shepherd were present. Holly Haines and Harvey McCleskey were absent. The board approved amended minutes, approved two fee waivers, heard a detailed Youth and Family program presentation, received the Director's Report, and accepted committee reports.

Approval of Minutes

• The board reviewed the minutes and discussed corrections, including a missing word in the organizational meeting motions and a clarification that Donna Simmons's prior NRAC comment was intended to express a desire for more participation.
• A motion to approve both sets of minutes as amended was made by Jan Ross and seconded by Ken Shepherd. The motion carried by roll call.

Hearing of Visitors / Correspondence

• No visitor slips were submitted, and there was no correspondence to report.

Unfinished Business: Rules of Operation

• The board reviewed the cleaned-up Rules of Operation. The item was brought back because members had discussed possibly changing the meeting start time.
• Board members expressed differing preferences: some supported an earlier start around 6:00 or 6:30, while others preferred keeping 7:00 p.m. One member said 6:00 would be difficult, and one offered 6:30 as a compromise.
• No change was made; the board agreed to keep the 7:00 p.m. start time.
• A board member noted that the city website incorrectly lists meetings on the second Wednesday. Staff agreed to review and update the website.

New Business: Fee Waivers

• High Point Elementary requested a shelter reservation/fee waiver at Friendship Park for April 17. Staff noted the date is available and the board approved the same request last year.
• A second fee waiver was requested for GMSE/GMAC, described as benefiting Gahanna Middle School East eighth-grade students who are not going to Washington, D.C. A question about the wording Gmax students was clarified as referring to middle school east students.
• Chrissy Kaminski moved to approve both fee waivers, and Ken Shepherd seconded. The roll call vote was unanimous among the five voting members: Eric Miller, Donna Simmons, Chrissy Kaminski, Jan Ross, and Ken Shepherd voted yes.

Youth & Family Program Presentation

• Recreation Superintendent Brian Gill and Recreation Coordinator Nicole presented a review of 2025 programs and plans for 2026.
• Camp statistics: 1,750 total campers and 471 unique campers; Camp Hannah and Camp Friendship were almost all sold out; Camp Thrive for ages 12-14 had eight weeks, with four full and four one camper below capacity; Camp Begins preschool camp served 126 of 128 slots.
• Staffing: more than 60 camp staff were hired last year, and interviews for 2026 are already underway. A new behavioral specialist position will support camper behavior plans, parent communication, visual schedules, and inclusion rather than serving as a regular counselor.
• Camp enrichment included on-site providers such as Realm of the Reptile, DJ Matt Ryan, Brutus Buckeye, and magician Erica Carlson. Camp Thrive took off-site trips including a Columbus Clippers game, Scene 75, Alum Creek beach, and a bowling-type venue. The teen program is capped at 12 in part because only one van is available.
• Specialty and contractual camps included Intro to Acting at Peace Lutheran with 26 participants, BALL Sports with 296 participants over nine weeks at Woodside Green, Winter Break Camp with 15 participants, Gym Skills mobile gymnastics, and Dr. Dan the Science Man activities.
• In response to a board member's question, staff said there are currently no dedicated camps for children with special needs because of the current staffing structure, but they work with families individually and refer them to other programs when needed.
• 2025 programs highlighted included Backyard Biologist, splash pad snow cones, Santa letters for 282 children, Earth Day Coloring Contest, and Spook Up Gahanna.
• 2026 summer camp registration opens the following Thursday at 9:00 a.m. for residents and the following Monday for non-residents. The city will offer 12 weeks of Camp Hannah, 10 weeks of Camp Friendship, 9 weeks of Camp Begins, and 9 weeks of Camp Thrive.
• New and planned 2026 programs include Busy Bees, Music Together, Super Tots, Cooking Caravan, Challenge Island, PJ Pancakes and Plush, Family Puzzlepalooza, Junior Rangers, homeschool rec clubs, playground pop-ups, a bike rodeo, Cops and Bobbers, Stuffy Summer Camp, parents' night out, and expanded teen programming.
• Board members praised the new programming and expressed particular support for the behavioral specialist position and the Cops and Bobbers program.

Director's Report

• The Exploration Center is underway: insulation is in place, drywall is expected by the end of the week, and completion is tentatively expected by the end of summer.
• The Academy Park project will be on city council's agenda the following week. Trees are being removed now for Indiana bat compliance and parking lot reconstruction; city arbor staff are doing the removals internally.
• Friendship Park playground design is moving toward finalized concepts. The next phase will plan trash cans, benches, trails, and how the playground functions within the park, with that work expected after summer camp season.
• The board will hold its last meeting in the current facility on April 15, and a ribbon cutting for the new city hall/senior center/police department space is tentatively scheduled for April 25.
• The city planned three Creekside Live dates instead of the usual six because participation has declined; the change is intended to invest in larger acts.
• An ODOT grant of $136,000 was received for Big Walnut Trail wayfinding signage, including kiosks near parks adjacent to the trail.
• Staff highlighted the pop-up campfire program as a successful community engagement effort, and a board member suggested board members attend those events.
• A board member suggested the board could host a table at the Gahanna market as community outreach, and several members supported the idea.

Committee Reports

• Bicycle & Trail Advisory Committee (BTAC): discussed a possible high school survey for students who walk or bike, Stony Brook Bridge repairs expected to be completed within a couple of months, the Big Walnut Trail signage grant, the April 18 bike rodeo, e-bike rule changes under discussion in New Albany and Bexley, and nearby projects including the 62 bikeway and Big Walnut Trail connections.
• Gahanna Active Senior Advisory Committee (GASAC): discussed engaging new members and preparing for higher volume in the new senior center space. Staff reported that senior recreation coordinator Lauren Gregory accepted a position with New Albany Parks and Recreation; the hiring process to backfill her role is underway, and a candidate may be presented at the next meeting.
• Natural Resources Advisory Committee (NRAC): a BioBlitz and an Explore Ecosystem program are planned to build interest in Gahanna's ecology; trainings begin in May and will be promoted through the Explorer guide.

Member Comments

• Eric Miller highlighted a Uniquely Gahanna article about the parks and said it was well done. Other members had no additional comments.

Key Outcomes

• Approved both sets of meeting minutes as amended.
• Approved the High Point Elementary and GMSE/GMAC fee waiver requests unanimously.
• Kept the board meeting start time at 7:00 p.m. and directed staff to correct the website meeting-date information.
• Received the 2026 Youth and Family program presentation and the Director's project updates.
• Noted the upcoming move to the new city hall facility and the April 25 ribbon cutting.