Plan would make donating to Findlay park easy

FINDLAY — The next step in funding Findlay's downtown recreation area could be a plan that would make donating to the park more user-friendly. Findlay City Council's Strategic Planning Committee voted in late September to support designating the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation to collect and manage contributions for the recreation area. The move is intended to simplify the donation process and ensure that gifts are tax-deductible — something the city cannot guarantee on its own. Committee members include council members Brian Bauman, R-5, Josh Palmer, R-7, and Grant Russel, R-at-large, Mayor Christina Muryn and Jeff Wobser, R-at-large, chairman. Matt Cordonnier, director of the Hancock Regional Planning Commission, is an ex officio member. Mayor Christina Muryn said the arrangement will make it easier for donors to contribute, whether they're giving $5 a month or making a major gift. "This makes it easier for people who want to give and allows us to build a long-term fund that could support operations and maintenance of the park," Muryn said. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the Community Foundation can issue charitable contribution receipts, allowing donors to claim deductions. The Foundation also accepts online and small-dollar donations and can manage funds over time, potentially creating an endowment for future park upkeep. City Auditor Jim Staschiak said his office is capable of handling donations and issuing receipts, but emphasized that the city cannot guarantee tax deductibility. "We do this every day," he said. "But we refer donors to their tax professionals because the city isn't a nonprofit." The foundation charges a 0.75% administrative fee, but Muryn said that cost is offset by interest earnings. In 2024, the foundation's cash accounts earned between 3.5% and 3.95% interest, more than covering the fee. The agreement had already been reviewed and approved by the city's law director, but the committee recommended sending it to council's Appropriations Committee for further review due to the involvement of city funds. The recreation area would cost between $30.4 and $37.8 million in 2027 dollars, according to the initial design work. Findlay's investment is projected to be about $10 million, with grants and donations making up the balance. In December 2023, Findlay City Council voted to appropriate $1.5 million to contract with Strand & Associates, Inc., Columbus, to begin the design. Earlier this year, council voted to appropriate the additional $4 million needed to finish design and engineering work, bringing the total design bill to over $5.5 million. In December 2024, council approved a tax increment financing district in the downtown area for the proposed downtown recreation area and other improvements in the downtown. TIFs allow the city to redirect property tax revenue generated by new development to pay for public infrastructure. City officials expect it to contribute significantly to the $10 million investment. Known as the "Downtown North River Development Project," the park will cover approximately 19 acres on the north side of the Blanchard River, stretching from the river north to Clinton Court, with Cory Street as its western boundary and ending at the railroad tracks to the east. There will also be enhancements to the south bank of the river. All amenities will be designed to withstand flooding. The project is part of the larger "benching" project along the Blanchard River, meant to increase the river's capacity during floods. Plans feature a skate park, gardens, shelter houses, picnic areas, a playable fountain and an amphitheater.