OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Parks & Recreation Board Meeting - June 4, 2026

City Council & Commissions — Thursday, June 4, 2026
BodyGahanna, Ohio
SessionCity Council & Commissions
DateThursday, June 4, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 23:30

Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

I'd like to call this regular meeting of the Gehana Parks and Rec Board to order May 20th, 2026.

0:09

Can we have a roll call?

0:10

Yes.

0:10

Eric Miller.

0:12

Here.

0:13

Here.

0:14

Colleagues.

0:15

Here.

0:15

Christine Mensky.

0:17

Here.

0:18

Jan Ross.

0:20

Ken Shepherd.

0:22

Here.

0:23

And then Michael Mosley.

0:25

Here.

0:29

Okay.

0:29

Approval of minutes.

0:31

Did everybody have a chance to look over the minutes?

0:35

Oh.

0:36

I got two comments.

0:41

Under unfinished business, page two.

0:46

Under PNR, Board Academy.

0:49

The second sentence it says she Ms.

0:53

Zachal's successful transition.

0:55

There's some word missing.

0:56

I'm not sure what.

0:59

And under page three, uh the third complete paragraph down where it talks about measure Simmons ask if there will be any changes.

1:11

The fifth line it says allowed continue use of baseball activities where.

1:18

The sentence is incomplete.

1:21

So that's all I got.

1:27

Anybody else?

1:31

The motion to approve the minutes is amended.

1:34

I recommend uh make the motion that the minutes be approved is amended.

1:40

Is there a second?

1:41

I'll second.

1:42

Roll call.

1:43

Okay.

1:45

Yes.

1:46

Yes.

1:48

Yes.

1:48

Chrissy Kaminsky.

1:50

Yes.

1:51

Yes.

1:52

Did you get those changes?

1:55

Sorry, I didn't ask first.

1:57

Okay, any additions or corrections to the agenda.

2:03

Okay.

2:04

Hearing a visitors, we don't have any visitors.

2:07

Correspondence and actions.

2:09

Any correspondence or actions not?

2:12

Okay.

2:12

Unfinished business pricing policy.

2:14

Stephanie, you want to address that?

2:16

Yes.

2:17

Included in your packet this evening.

2:19

Um we will incorporate it into the minutes for this evening's meeting.

2:23

There is a suggested red line.

2:27

Um on the first page, you'll notice that the effective date is highlighted.

2:30

Um we did expect that this will and will continue a communication with this, but as part of the last parks board meeting, we discussed to add some information or some policy related to the deposits for any type of fee waivers that are requested for any type of rentals or rental, um, excuse me, equipment rentals.

2:52

Um so on the page seven, um, underneath the parks and recreation board, you'll see a red line, um, suggested red line.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation█████████████████████████████████████████████81%
Community Engagement██████11%
Procedural████8%
Summary of Proceedings

Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Summary (June 4, 2026)

Note: The agenda and transcript indicate the meeting occurred on May 20, 2026, but the provided date is June 4, 2026. This summary uses the provided date.

The Gahanna Parks & Recreation Board met on June 4, 2026, at 7:00 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. The board approved minutes with corrections, adopted amendments to the pricing policy, approved a fee waiver request for Nationwide Children's Hospital, and received updates on the Gahanna Swimming Pool site assessment, capital projects, and committee activities.

Approval of Minutes

  • The board approved the minutes of the April 15, 2026 meeting as amended. Two corrections were noted: an incomplete sentence on page 2 under "Unfinished Business" (concerning Ms. Zachal's transition) and an incomplete sentence on page 3 regarding baseball activities. The motion passed unanimously.

Unfinished Business: Pricing Policy

  • Stephanie presented a suggested redline to the pricing policy. The amendment adds language on page 7 allowing the director or designee to require a deposit for rental reservations, depending on the nature of the reservation. This change was prompted by past discussions about fee waivers for schools and the need for staff-level decision-making on deposits. The policy is reviewed annually and requires City Council approval. The board voted unanimously to approve the changes as written.

New Business: Fee Waiver Request

  • A request from Nationwide Children's Hospital to waive shelter rental fees for their Diabetes Fun Fair on October 24, 2026 (8:00 AM – 2:00 PM) was presented. The event will include pop-up tents, nutrition classes, cooking demonstrations, and insurance resources for families of children with diabetes. The board approved the waiver with the condition that a deposit be required. Motion passed unanimously.

New Business: Gahanna Swimming Pool Site Assessment

  • The board received an update on the Request for Proposals (RFP) for a site assessment of the Gahanna Swimming Pool. The pool is over 50 years old, located in a regulatory floodway, and the PVC membrane (installed ~10 years ago) is showing issues. The draft aquatics plan identified this site as the preferred location for a larger aquatic center. The RFP deadline is May 26, 2026; no board action was required. Hunters Ridge Pool is not expected to see significant changes.

Director's Report

  • Academy Park Playground: Awarded an OEPA scrap tire grant of $113,000, allowing a full pour-in-place surface instead of a combination with engineered wood fiber.
  • Ashburnham Playground: Concepts are being developed for an updated playground.
  • Big Walnut Bridge: Pedestrian bridge near Stony Brook Church is completed and open—ahead of schedule.
  • Pool Operations: The middle school visit to Gahanna Swimming Pool occurred on May 19, 2026.
  • Price Road Updates: Progress continues; parking lot work remains; programs are on track for fall.

Committee Reports

  • Bicycle & Trail Advisory Committee (BTAC): No meeting held; next meeting is July 15, 2026.
  • Gahanna Active Senior Advisory Committee (GASAC): No meeting; elections for new board members occurred last week.
  • Natural Resources Advisory Committee (NRAC): The Adopt a Park program launched with seven individuals signed up. They will undergo background checks and training for litter cleanup and invasive removal (hand tools) at larger parks like Academy Park and Gahanna Woods. The goat grazing program at the golf course was completed; the goats were removed. The contract (with "Go Go Goats") was noted as cost-effective and safer for steep slopes.

Key Outcomes

  • Minutes approved as amended (unanimous).
  • Pricing policy amendment approved (unanimous); will be forwarded to City Council for approval.
  • Fee waiver for Nationwide Children's Hospital Diabetes Fun Fair approved with deposit requirement (unanimous).
  • Gahanna Swimming Pool site assessment RFP issued; no board action.
  • Memorial Day Service at Veterans Park on Monday, May 25, 2026, at 1:00 PM was announced by board member Kim.

Adjournment

  • The meeting adjourned at approximately 7:24 PM.

Meeting Transcript

I'd like to call this regular meeting of the Gehana Parks and Rec Board to order May 20th, 2026. Can we have a roll call? Yes. Eric Miller. Here. Here. Colleagues. Here. Christine Mensky. Here. Jan Ross. Ken Shepherd. Here. And then Michael Mosley. Here. Okay. Approval of minutes. Did everybody have a chance to look over the minutes? Oh. I got two comments. Under unfinished business, page two. Under PNR, Board Academy. The second sentence it says she Ms. Zachal's successful transition. There's some word missing. I'm not sure what. And under page three, uh the third complete paragraph down where it talks about measure Simmons ask if there will be any changes. The fifth line it says allowed continue use of baseball activities where. The sentence is incomplete. So that's all I got. Anybody else? The motion to approve the minutes is amended. I recommend uh make the motion that the minutes be approved is amended. Is there a second? I'll second. Roll call. Okay. Yes. Yes. Yes. Chrissy Kaminsky. Yes. Yes. Did you get those changes? Sorry, I didn't ask first. Okay, any additions or corrections to the agenda. Okay. Hearing a visitors, we don't have any visitors. Correspondence and actions. Any correspondence or actions not?

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com