Canton approves $3.55 million in ARPA funds for parks and recreation

Kelly Byer, The Repository
·4 min read

CANTON − City Council has greenlit $3.55 million in Canton Parks and Recreation improvements ― including the creation of a spray park in each city quadrant ― that will be funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

Council members on Monday voted on the second of three readings, "fast-tracking" the ordinance after Majority Leader Bill Smuckler, D-at large, noted that council wouldn't meet again until Oct. 17.

"This is all your projects," he said. "This is all projects that we've all asked for. So, if you want to, we could adopt it."

Councilmen Kevin D. Hall, D-6, and Peter Ferguson, D-8, said they wouldn't be present at the next meeting and favored voting Monday. Councilman Greg Hawk, D-1, said work likely wouldn't occur until spring and preferred taking more time to discuss the projects.

"We've got all the time in the world," he said.

Councilman Frank Morris, D-9, was the only member absent for Monday's vote, which received no opposition.

Mayor Thomas Bernabei said the ordinance resulted from months of discussion between the city administration, council members and parks director. There's no timeline for completion because of unknown designs and supply chain issues.

The Canton Park Commission approved the projects last week, Bernabei added.

Park board members Maureen Austin and John "J.R." Rinaldi voted in favor of the ARPA-funded projects and member Joseph Gerzina opposed them as presented. Gerzina expressed concerns about unsupervised spray parks and requested more park board and public input regarding their locations.

The projects and their estimated costs are:

  • $1 million for a spray park, playground upgrades and other improvements at Weis Park.

  • $750,000 for a spray park and improvements at Garaux Park.

  • $750,000 for a spray park and improvements at Harmont Park.

  • $750,000 for a spray park upgrade or an alternative, playground upgrades and other improvements at the Edward "Peel" Coleman Community Center.

  • $100,000 for improvements at Myers Park.

  • $50,000 each for improvements at Maryland Park, Nimisilla Park, Bernard Park and Cornelia Park.

Canton Parks and Recreation Director Doug Foltz said specific improvements still are being determined but he hopes to have some completed by next summer.

"This is a great opportunity for us to fix all the parks up," he said after Monday's council meeting.

Smuckler ended the meeting by thanking the administration and council members for funding the improvements.

"I think we all have a lot to look forward to in our wards," he said.

The ordinance also authorized the mayor or public service director, in coordination with the Canton Park Commission, to enter contracts to establish a three-on-three basketball program.

Canton expands fence rules

City Council updated its ordinance regarding fences with rules that specify the permitted materials and manner of their construction.

The existing law allows fences to be built up to a property line at a maximum of 4 feet high in a front yard, 6 feet high in a side yard, and 8 feet high in a back yard. Fences in certain business or industrial areas can be up to 10 feet tall. Barbed wire and electric fences, except for an invisible fence, are not allowed in residential areas.

The new regulations maintain the existing ones plus the following:

  • Supports for fences cannot be visible from the adjoining property unless the supports are similar in appearance on both sides.

  • A fence cannot block a driver's visibility on public streets or driveways that intersect with streets.

  • A fence gate cannot swing over a public right-of-way.

  • Fences must be built with a weather-resistant and consistent material ― such as wrought iron, chain link, pressure-treated lumber, cedar, redwood, PVC and vinyl.

  • Fences cannot feature graffiti or advertising without a sign permit.

  • Scrap material, snow fencing and chicken wire cannot be used for traditional fencing.

Other action

  • Agreed to vacate a portion of Century Circle SW and replat property in the 3900 block of Faircrest Street SW. The change, requested by Robert DeHoff for DeHoff Development, creates six lots out of three in the Mills Industrial Park. Economic Development Director Christopher Hardesty said two companies, the names of which he could not disclose, have expressed interest in locating in the industrial park.

  • Approved a resolution supporting House Concurrent Resolution 14, which urges the governor to declare a state of emergency for childhood trauma.

  • Approved a resolution recognizing October as domestic violence awareness month and Canton's "Take Back the Night" event Oct. 12 at Centennial Plaza.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Canton OKs $3.55 million in ARPA funds for parks and recreation