Beavercreek planning improvements to three parks

This playground unit was recently installed in a park in Beavercreek and is an example of the types of units being considered for Rotary Park this year. Contributed

This playground unit was recently installed in a park in Beavercreek and is an example of the types of units being considered for Rotary Park this year. Contributed

Beavercreek residents will have an opportunity to weigh-in on the city’s plans to install new playground equipment at three parks.

Gerspacher Park and Rotary Park are slated to get some new equipment installed this year using parks levy money that was approved by voters in 2015. Work is also planned to add features at Merrick Park.

An informal forum open to the public is set for 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Lofino Plaza Meeting Room, 3868 Dayton-Xenia Road.

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Kim Farrell, superintendent of Beavercreek’s Parks, Recreation & Culture Department, said in a prepared statement they are looking forward to receiving “input for our park projects.”

“We have been blessed to have great community support and look forward to keeping the communication open. We pride ourselves on great parks and will continue to Take Care of What We Have,” stated

City officials will be on hand as well as the manufacturer of the proposed equipment, Minnesota-based Landscape Structures. They will have photos of some of the structures that are being considered and residents will be encouraged to provide feedback, said Zach Wike, assistant superintendent of Beavercreek’s public administrative services.

“This forum is to get feedback from the community about what they want in the parks,” Wike said. “We want to provide the playground equipment that people want.”

Wike said a tower-type playground structure with two levels of play is being considered for Gerspacher Park in honor of all the ash trees that once populated the park but had to be cut down because of the emerald ash borer beetle. He said there are plans to plant more trees there as well.

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At Rotary Park, a smaller type of playground structure is slated to be installed in August.

Some improvements are also planned at Merrick Park, but Wike said they need residents to weigh-in on what they want, whether it’s a swing set, climbing structure or shelter and picnic tables.

More open forums are planned as the city’s parks department will be updating their 10-year master plan this summer.

For more information, visit the Beavercreek Parks, Recreation & Culture page at www.beavercreekohio.gov.

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