Circleville, OH – The Strategic planning committee convened this evening to discuss several ordinances, including a significant proposal to amend the 2015 master plan for Ted Lewis Park. The proposed amendment involves adding basketball courts to the park, a change that has sparked considerable debate.
Larry Logan, Chairman of the Friends of Ted Lewis Park, addressed the Strategic Planning Committee, expressing enthusiasm over recent fundraising successes. “In the past 10 days, we’ve raised $130,000 for the park,” Logan reported. He emphasized the need for basketball courts, a project he said would be funded by Forjak Industrial. Logan urged the committee to pass an ordinance to incorporate these courts into the park’s master plan.
Logan’s team, including Sue Haley, Terry Leisure, and Ty Ankrom, has been instrumental in the park’s revitalization efforts. He acknowledged the support of Jim Stanley from the City, who has worked closely with the committee to improve the park and the city.
The proposal has stirred mixed reactions among council members and the community. Some members, like Chairman Theis, praised the Friends of Ted Lewis Park for their efforts but voiced concerns about the impact of adding basketball courts. Theis noted that while the park has seen numerous improvements, including new lighting and a planned new shelter house, the addition of basketball courts could conflict with the park’s current master plan priorities.
The master plan, developed in 2015 following community input, outlined priorities based on a survey of 856 residents. Key features identified in the survey included walking and biking trails, improved park safety, and a new splash pad. Basketball courts were among the least desired features.
Committee members debated the relevance of the 2015 survey, with some suggesting it might be outdated. “Nine years is a significant time frame, and the park has changed considerably since then,” remarked one Committee member. There were calls for a new survey to gauge current public opinion before making a final decision.
Logan argued that the need for basketball courts reflects a broader community demand, citing an informal poll conducted by the Scioto Post, where the majority of respondents favored adding basketball facilities. He also highlighted that improvements such as security cameras and cleared brush have made the park safer and more accessible.
The discussion also touched on the broader need for recreational facilities across the city, with some council members advocating for a citywide survey to determine community priorities.
Circleville City Mayor also spoke at the meeting, “I want to remind everyone that as an elected official, my primary responsibility is to respond to the needs and concerns of our citizens. One issue that comes up frequently is the need for more basketball courts. As a parent with a 17-year-old son who used to play at Ted Lewis Park but now struggles to find a suitable place, I understand this issue firsthand. Emerine Park, while a valuable resource, only has a single basketball court and lacks the multi-functional space that a family park provides.
We must acknowledge that the survey conducted nine years ago does not fully represent our current community. Since then, we’ve faced a global pandemic and other changes that have shifted the city’s demographics. With only 800 responses out of a population of 14,000, the data is not statistically significant and does not reflect the true needs of our residents. Furthermore, the survey likely includes input from non-residents, as not all water bills are paid by city residents.
While it’s true that surveys and data can be interpreted in various ways, what remains crucial is addressing the current demands of our community. The proposed basketball court will be placed in a different location within the park, away from playground equipment, which addresses previous concerns. We’ve also increased security measures and police patrols at the park.
We need to move beyond outdated plans and acknowledge that our city’s priorities and demographics have evolved. It’s important to remember that there are diverse activities happening at the park, and we must not exclude one group to favor another. Our goal is to serve all citizens fairly.
I urge the committee to support the proposal to add the basketball court. It represents a significant opportunity to meet the needs of our community, and we should consider passing it on to the full council. Let’s ensure we’re responding to the current needs of our residents and not letting outdated data dictate our decisions.”
The committee decided to review the original 2015 survey data and consider the possibility of a new community survey. The committee voted to push it through to Council on September 3rd. Only one person on the Committee voted No Sherri Theis who said that she had to stand with the 2015 survey that the citizens said they did not want a court.
