MOUNT VERNON — Mount Vernon is among the communities awarded funding to improve outdoor recreational activities.
The city will receive $47,681 through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ (ODNR) NatureWorks grant program for a restroom, drinking fountain, and pavilion at Arch Park.
“We’re excited to work on this neighborhood park. The survey results from this summer were incredibly helpful as residents guided our planning and investment,” Safety-Service Director Tanner Salyers said.
“We were able to leverage this data and existing projects into a grant submission that resulted in nearly $50,000 for a feature that was the number one requested feature from West End residents who use Arch Park the most.”
The total Arch Park improvement project is estimated at around $300,000. It includes expanding the community garden, enhancing river access, and new playground equipment.
“Our plans are to remove some existing structures, prep the site for improved parking, some minor utilities work, and the installation of a prefabricated year-round restroom, similar to what is at Harmony playground,” Salyers said.
“We would like to combine this [restroom] project with the addition of a small pavilion, similar to what folks are familiar with at Hunter’s Landing Splash Pad or Phillip’s Park.”
The city’s engineering department has completed designs for the bathroom and improved parking space. It is working on the pavilion designs.
The city has a two-year window to complete the project.
“We would like to see this project completed in 2026. That is our plan,” Salyers said. “But it will depend on the capacity of our staff and contractors as we have a lot of other very important and time-sensitive projects, many on the west end, that we’ll be working on in 2026.”
Parks across Ohio will see major improvements
Mount Vernon’s Arch Park grant was among 76 projects ODNR approved 76 projects statewide. The projects total more than $2.9 million.
The NatureWorks award is a reimbursement grant. That means the city will receive the funds when it completes the project.
City council members will put $250,000 in capital improvement funds toward the project. Salyers said the city will also seek additional funding.
“The availability of private donations always helps move projects like these along, just like the splash pad,” he said. “Without the generosity of the folks in our community, we would have much fewer amenities to enjoy, and we’re very thankful for those gifts to the city.”
NatureWorks grants provide up to 75 percent reimbursement assistance to local government subdivisions for the acquisition, development, and rehabilitation of recreational areas.
Subdivisions include townships, villages, cities, counties, park districts, joint recreation districts, and conservancy districts.
“We take pride in our parks because they are an important central gathering place in our local communities,” Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said in a statement last week announcing the awards.
“We hope the projects funded by these grants will encourage more Ohioans to enjoy the outdoors with friends and family.”
Ohio Parks and Natural Resources bond issue funds the NatureWorks projects. Ohioans approved the bond issue in November 1993.
Additional legislation authorized the creation of the NatureWorks Grant Program.
“We want Ohioans to be able to discover an amazing park in their own backyard and that’s why we support our local parks,” said ODNR Director Mary Mertz. “These grants allow communities to grow their love of nature and exploration.”
Mount Vernon Mayor Matt Starr appreciates the award.
“We are thrilled with the award because it gives us momentum in addressing the neighborhood’s number one request for the park,” he said.
“We’re also hopeful that the state will come around and offer a capital budget this coming year. If that is the case, our parks will be at the top of the list — including Arch Park.”
