With Yoctangee Park lit for the season, the proposed major changes to it funded by the “Appalachian Community Grant Program” may be more or less in mind for park visitors looking at Christmas lights.
As the draft plan has been evolving since its big unveiling on May 1st, and shown in stages to county and city officials, there has also been some criticism of it lately.
The approximately two-and-a-half-year fast-paced plan to add buildings and reconfigure recreational facilities has reached the point where the city can make the first legal contract in the project.
That was when council passed a resolution allowing the mayor to contract with a “construction manager at risk,” as sponsored by development chair Dan Demint. As he and Mayor Luke Feeney explained to council Monday evening, that job is not to make designs, but to look at the project’s budget from design to the end of construction.
The job is more about accounting and prioritizing money, but they say it will help put the big picture together and help bring it to the public to get input. The resolution was passed on second reading.
Feeney said that since this makes it possible to have a public hearing on the project, he hopes to do that before the end of the year – though December is tricky for scheduling.
1 of 2 Chillicothe Mayor Luke Feeney gives his briefing to council.
2 of 2 Janet Griffith of “Save Yoctangee Park” speaks to council, objecting to proposed changes to the park.
But a watchdog for Yoctangee Park has leveled criticism for what she says is a lack of transparency for a project that calls for buildings to take up greenspace, and for commercial and other activities to conflict with leisure and recreation.
Janet Griffith has spoken to council a few times, taking up her role from a generation ago in “Save Yoctangee Park” where she helped lead an effort that prevented a baseball stadium from being built in the city park.
Hear her side of the issue in my side story. Hear councilman Dan Demin and Mayor Luke Feeney in their own words in the videos below.
My previous Scioto Post stories on this topic (you can also search for others):
- Chillicothe and Ross County Officials Explain Projects Funded by Unveiled Appalachian Community Grant (5/1/2024)
- Plans for Chillicothe’s Yoctangee Park Evolving Rapidly in Short Timeframe(8/27/2024)
- Roundabout Still Among Major Yoctangee Park Renovations Being Planned in Chillicothe (8/28/2024)
You can also watch council sessions live on the city’s Facebook page, and archived there and on council’s YouTube page (when their equipment works right).
The “Shine On Chillicothe” display in and around the park was switched on last Friday.
Find more in the article on the Scioto Post, including the videos.
Kevin Coleman covers local government and culture for the Scioto Post and iHeart Media Southern Ohio. For stories or questions, contact Kevin Coleman or the iHeart Southern Ohio Newsroom.
Dan Demint explains his legislation on the proposed changes to Yoctangee Park.