MOUNT VERNON — Mount Vernon City Council members voted to honor a Mount Vernon native by creating the Columbus Delano Field of Discovery in what’s known as the West Prairie in Ariel-Foundation Park.
Delano was a Knox County prosecutor and served on First Knox National Bank and Kenyon College boards.
He served in the U.S. House of Representatives and ran for Ohio governor in 1847. After his unsuccessful bid, Delano moved to New York City.
He became the Secretary of the Interior under Ulysses S. Grant and founded Yellowstone National Park. After he resigned in 1875, he returned to Lakeholm, his Mount Vernon home. He is buried in Mound View Cemetery.
The prairie at the Harcourt Road park entrance has been a pollinator field as part of Bee City and Tree City efforts. The Foundation Park Conservancy, the city’s Shade Tree and Beautification Commission, and volunteers planted 50 native trees, including Johnny Appleseed tree grafts. Some walking trails exist.
“It kind of exists in its infancy, but what we want do is really take it over and turn it into a thing,” Safety-service Director Tanner Salyers explained.
The city will assume management for the Columbus Delano Field of Discovery. Plans include sunflower fields and additional walking trails with educational kiosks.
Another idea is to install biodegradable public art, such as log sculptures, that the city can cycle out over time.
Salyers said city officials contacted the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Congressman Troy Balderson to see if funds are available from the Interior Department.
Council members adopted the legislation naming the area Columbus Delano Field of Discovery on its second reading.
Overnight camping
Council members also adopted an ordinance on second reading authorizing Salyers to permit overnight camping in city parks.
Previously, the city council had to grant permission for events such as the Boy Scouts Jamboree in Ariel-Foundation Park or Paddle for Heroes at Memorial Park.
Authorizing Salyers to grant permission streamlines the process. Permits will only be granted to recreational, educational, or community events and limited to two nights.
“We are not, I want to be very clear, not proposing to expand camping or to add campgrounds in the parks,” he said. “We’re not adding camping spots or any RV or camper hookups or anything like that.”
Salyers said the city has a certain level of sovereign immunity regarding liability. Regarding property damage, he said a person providing personal information and paying a fee is unlikely to damage property or spread graffiti.
Council President Bruce Hawkins objected to charging a nonprofit a fee to overnight camp.
Salyers acknowledged the idea that parks are public and people should be able to use them for free. However, he pointed out that the city is charging for exclusive use.
Legislative action
In addition to creating the Columbus Delano Field of Discovery and permitting Salyers to approve overnight camping, the city council passed the following legislation:
•To seek Request for Qualifications for a management firm to oversee municipal building projects
•Authorizing the bidding and contracting of a CDBG East Vine Street sidewalk project
•Appointing Erin Daniels to the New Community Authority board
•Authorizing Salyers to contract with CDC of Ohio to serve as the city’s Community Development Block Grant coordinator
•To cap the reserve balance account and transition the money to a separate fund
•Transfer funds, pay bills, and approve supplemental appropriations of $30,203 from a state homeland security grant to the fire department for hazmat gas monitoring and testing equipment
•To contract with the Ohio Department of Transportation for snow removal on state and U.S. routes within city limits
Council members gave a second reading to updating city codes to comply with state changes.
