Stow envisions fresh steps for parks and recreation, inside and out

A new indoor recreation center. A multigenerational facility near the Stow City Center. Renovations to the camping areas at Silver Springs Park. Improvements to the city's local parks.

These are some of the possibilities that could materialize in Stow in the next decade. Many of the final decisions, however, will rest with the city's voters.

The city's parks and recreation board and staff recently released both a rough draft of its 10-year master plan, as well as the survey results from residents and their support for a prospective indoor recreational facility.

Residents heavily interested indoor recreation center proposal

For the first time in more than two decades, a proposal for a new indoor recreational facility may come before voters.

Mayor John Pribonic said the time may have come again, after a survey sent to residents showed that those responding seemed to favor the idea of having their own facility, like those found in Cuyahoga Falls and Tallmadge.

"The population has changed a good deal," Pribonic said. "The demographics have changed a good deal since then."

The survey, which was available to both Stow residents and non-residents, had 1,432 responses. According to information provided by the city, more than 95% of the responses were from Stow residents.

In a part of a survey, respondents were asked to prioritize their top four recreational amenities for their households. The amenity receiving the strongest support was a community center/recreation center. The city has been working on a feasibility study, which will provide the city with key data and information on the market and demand for services, develop operational costs, and determine capital investment for potential construction.

According to the recently released survey, 66.2% of Stow residents responded that constructing an indoor recreation facility was "very important," and another 20.7% felt it was "somewhat important." In addition, 85.3% said they would visit such a facility on a daily or weekly basis if the facility had the amenities they considered most important. The top five amenities, as ranked by those responding to the survey, was an indoor walking and jogging track, a dedicated cardio space, a leisure pool, a gymnasium, and locker rooms.

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The big question, however, is funding. Will residents be willing to pay for the construction? The admittance and membership fees?

According to a draft of the survey results, 38.% said they would be "very supportive," and 25.3% would be "somewhat supportive" to increasing property taxes for an indoor facility. Responses for "somewhat not supportive" and "not supportive" were a culminative 12.7%, and 23.9 percent stated they would need to know more.

"We've run into this with past levies," said Linda Nahrstedt, the director of Stow's parks and recreation department. "We find that people want things but might not be willing to pay."

A location on where the facility would go has not been finalized, Nahrstedt said.

"There have not been sites vetted for this as of yet," Nahrstedt said. "The master plan study proposed the site on city property, north of the city center complex where the current senior center is located."

In the master plan and map rendering, this structure, also labeled a multigenerational center, would be a $28 million, 70,000-square-foot structure near the city's service center and along Darrow Road.

Nahrstedt said the next step would be to form small community groups to fine-tune the plans for a recreation center.

"The consultant we are working with wanted us to keep to groups of people," she said. "The sports groups together, the parents together, the seniors together."

Pribonic said the city will follow through on the results of the survey and the focus groups, Pribonic said.

"That is one thing we are committed to," Pribonic said. "We want to get to that point and let (residents) decide. We want to follow this to the end."

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Silver Springs could see upgrades to campgrounds, trails

The city also conducted a separate survey for a 10-year master plan for the parks and recreation department. City officials had hoped to gather 350 completed statistically valid surveys. More people than that wanted to chime in, and the city received 480 of these surveys. In addition, between Jan. 2 and 31, 1,065 responses in an online survey that mirrored the other survey.

According to the draft proposed master plan, costs are broken down in three categories: critical improvements, secondary improvements and visionary improvements. Improvements deemed critical are estimated to cost nearly $4.5 million. Secondary improvements are $6.13 million, and visionary improvements would cost $36.2 million. Probable cost, including a contingency allowance of nearly $12 million, would be $65.5 million.

Silver Springs Park, which has entry points off Young Road and Stow Road, is 280 acres. This park includes the new Leona Farris Lodge, the Heritage Barn, the SOAR Boundless Playground, Bow Wow Beach, basketball courts, ballfields, shelters and trails. The park also has a municipally-operated camp.

The plan lists four critical improvements for the park, including improvements to the prairie area and naturalized area, trail restoration, and landscaping. Other improvements include a disc golf course, treehouse village, asphalt trails, a kayak launch, an amphitheater, a shelter with restrooms and an outdoor learning center. Probable cost for improvements are estimated at a little less than $4.6 million, with $505,000 for the critical improvements.

Additions in store for Stow City Center

Under the draft of the master plan, the land surrounding the Stow City Center could see some major additions.

Ideas would include a splash pad, an amphitheater, a food truck pad, updates to the Sancturetum, trails and updated landscaping. The total, probable cost, which includes contingencies, could be a little more than $41 million, including $450,000 for critical improvements to event space, the trails and landscaping.

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Farm property near Fox Den to be converted

The city also is thinking of creating a new community park on the Stewart-Hanson farm property across from the Fox Den Golf Course and near Silver Springs Park. The city purchased the 36-acre property last year.

"The Hanson home and other out buildings have been taken down, and trees have been cleared for an improved driving range and eventually, a teaching facility," said Nahrstedt.

According to information provided by the city, plans for the property include a 6.1-acre cemetery, in the area where the Hanson family cemetery is.

Goals include more staffing, funding

Two additional goals outlined by the parks and recreation department board are to increase staffing and maintenance in the department, and to set up a dedicated funding support.

According to information from the draft report, the city has 12 parks, totaling 450 acres within its 17.3 square miles. Its operational expenses in 2021 were $855,575, and annual capital improvement money varies from year to year. By comparison, in 2021, Cuyahoga Falls' operational expenses were $9.7 million, with 1.5 million in annual capital improvement funds. Green's operating expenses were $2.1 million, with $1.7 million slated for capital improvements. Solon's operating expenses were $3.5 million, with $433,570 reserved for annual capital improvements.

In addition, Stow has five full-time employees in its parks and recreation department. Cuyahoga Falls has 30, Green has 24.5, and Solon has 10.

Other improvements would include updating neighborhood and community parks with updated site master plans, and creating a connected park trails system.

For details on the master plan, visit https://stowohio.org/parks-and-recreation-master-plan online.

Reporter April Helms can be reached at ahelms@thebeaconjournal.com

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Draft of Stow parks master plan shows possible upgrades and additions