Columbus approves funds to rehab Hilltop park

COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) — Major upgrades are on the way for a city park which has not seen any big changes since the 1990s, according to an ordinance approved Monday night by city council.

Improvements will be made to Hauntz Park in the Hilltop. Joe Jones and his family are regulars there.

“I have seen maybe a little bit of a decline even when we’ve been living here as far as usage of the park. But I think the potential over here is really good,” Jones said as he pushed his daughter on the swing.

Crumbling concrete, peeling paint, and rusted doors at the shelter house are just a few signs of the deterioration. The park will be getting a new shelter house, basketball court, and playground, according to plans. The additions of better drainage, a skate park, picnic areas, walking loop, wetland, pollinator meadow, and boardwalk are also included.

Watch: Columbus approves funds to rehab Hilltop park

“I was shocked at the extent of it really. I thought maybe they’ll replace the shelter house or put a couple more swings in or something like that. But the fact they’re going to completely do a total renovation of the entire park here is, we’re stoked about it,” Jones said.

Council approved about $2.5 million for the project. The funding is from a Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, a Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund, and a Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund, according to the ordinance. The ordinance also explained park usage has declined due to community concerns over illicit activity.

“Just making this more of a neighborhood kind of feel would be huge,” Jane Richelmann said as she walked her dog at the park.

Jones said it’s been nice living so close to the park and will be even nicer when the work is complete.

“It would be great if there were more kids here playing, you know what I mean, remind me of when I was a kid and we would go down to the neighborhood park,” he said.

Residents had some opportunities to share their input on plans for the park. The work is expected to start in fall 2024 and finish fall 2025, according to the ordinance.

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