Muryn says council vote on park design unlikely

A vote Tuesday by Findlay City Council to move forward with initial design work for the proposed downtown park now appears unlikely, Mayor Christina Muryn said on Friday. The mayor had asked city council to move forward with legislation to fund the initial design, but without the results of the city's independent environmental study of the downtown riverfront property, she doesn't expect a vote. Legislation that would authorize city administrators to enter into a contract with Strand & Associates, Inc., to begin the initial design and engineering of the proposed downtown recreation area, was tabled just before council's vote on Aug. 15, pending results of the environmental study. The ordinance would appropriate $1.5 million for the work. Legislation introduced to council during an election year, including the tabled legislation, sunsets on Dec. 31, with new members to be seated in January. Muryn said there is still a chance the results will be ready before the meeting, but as of the end of the day on Friday, the report wasn't ready. Instead, Muryn said she will ask council for its support to pursue funding for the park through a state grant, without the design contract. The state of Ohio is preparing to grant nearly $700 million to communities for "transformational projects." Muryn has said applying for the state grant will allow the city to seek a larger dollar amount than has been awarded for traditional community projects through Ohio's capital budget. The deadline for applications is Dec. 18. Muryn wanted council's approval of the design contract to demonstrate that the city is committed to the project in applying for the grant. Council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Findlay Municipal Building, 318 Dorney Plaza. All council meetings are open to the public and are livestreamed on the city's YouTube channel: Findlay Ohio. Should construction of the downtown recreation area move forward, engineering fees for the full design are expected to be about $4 million. Early estimates put the cost of the park somewhere between $10 million and $40 million. A price tag of about $30 million was discussed most recently. Findlay's investment is expected to be about $10 million, with grants and donations making up the balance, Muryn has said. Known as the "Downtown North River Development Project," the recreation area would be designed to exist within the Blanchard River's flood zone and would include a skate park, gardens, shelter houses, picnic areas, a playable fountain area and an amphitheater, based on initial designs. Muryn has said further design work is necessary to determine the desired scope and cost of the park. More information about the development project, including a full business case proposal, is available on the city's website at www.findlayohio.gov Civil Environmental Consultants, Inc., Pittsburgh, the firm hired by the city, said they have identified data gaps in prior environmental studies of the riverfront property. The company has recommended areas needing more in-depth studies, known as "Phase II" environmentals. The company said the study will gauge their findings against safety standards set by the Ohio Voluntary Action Program for "high-frequency child exposure," due to the proposed future use of the site as a park. According to the records already supplied to the city, concerns with the property include "abandoned/orphaned tanks, drums and household hazardous waste associated with debris from the flood of August 2007." There is also potential for contamination from businesses once located in the benching area, including a dry cleaner, junkyard, gas station and machine shop. A total of 67 soil borings must still be collected from the area. A total of $20,027 has been paid to the company for the Phase II studies. Council has earmarked $100,000 for the complete review from the city's American Rescue Plan Act funds. Civil Environmental said the Phase II report will include "a narrative of the project background, the purpose of the investigation, the data quality objectives, the investigation processes, the findings, recommendations for additional sampling to fill data gaps (if any), and potential options for remedial action to meet applicable standards (if any). The Phase II report will also include tables, figures and supporting information appended to the report."