Arts & Culture Committee, June & July 2025
June 10, 2025
Art Park
We reviewed 3-4 design concepts from Yard & Co. and a UC urban planning student. They’d been given the feedback that we want this to be a park more like Central Park (in NYC) and less like a national park. The designs showed planned areas for walking, meditating, and enjoying art of various types. They all include a large fountain as a focal point and a formal entrance on the downtown-side of the park.
Our committee discussed integration/coordination with the downtown master plan and MADE CDC.
We also began talking about the logistics and budgeting required to make this park a reality. We suggested planning for each section of the park could happen in subgroups and the CDC could convene those groups to do the planning/design.
Next step is to have staff write an RFP for master planning of the park (listing elements to include). The committee approved this.
The committee agreed on the following list of desired elements
Paths both across and around for connectivity
Fountain
Entrance/gateway feature
Bathrooms
Parking and turn lane
Phased design
Mayor Nelson wants to meet with the Park Board to share the plans, and we agreed that since I am on the Board, we will need to do a public notice. Any time two members of a committee are present and discussing that committee’s work, it’s an official meeting and requires public notice. (Side note: This is why we cannot talk about committee work outside of committee meetings. It dramatically slows our progress but complies with Ohio’s Sunshine Laws.).
Char Pelfrey shared that the Gould Park committee and neighbors support the art park concept. She expressed their desired priority of connecting the Birchwood Farms neighborhood to downtown as the first project. In their opinion, we don’t need bathrooms first.
Mayor Nelson stated she wants to plan a work session to discuss the plan with the full council and get everyone on board with the vision. She will also invite the MADE CDC to attend.
I suggested that we could partner with the Mason Parks Foundation on some fundraising for the park.
The Joseph Warren Alive Project 1775-2025
Two representatives from The Joseph Warren Alive Project spoke to the committee. They were Greg Davis, a dentist in Mason for 21 years, and Dan Cunningham, an Artswave board member. Dan said, “What’s raised in Warren stays in Warren,” and founded the Cunningham Institute for Growth (CIGrowth.com)
They explained that our county was named after Joseph Warren, a hero of the battle of Bunker Hill. Warren was a physician who lived in Concord, and he was the man who told Paul Revere to go on his historic ride. Warren treated folks shot in Boston Massacre.
Many Revolutionary War veterans moved to Ohio for land grants, including William Mason.
The Joseph Warren Alive Project endeavors to preserve the ”Culture of Joseph Warren” by creating a Warren Freedom Trail - semipermanent trail through commercial areas and historic landmarks. Their goal is people come from outside county, stay 1-2 nights in hotels. Doesn’t have to be contiguous and will have locations in Mason.
The project would provide a framework of branding/look and suggestions for what works for these historic places. The trail will start at the brand new Joseph Warren statue being unveiled in Lebanon in front of the Harmon Museum. That day, they will have 5 sites on the trail, all within a short walk (it will be like geocaching for kids).
The project has a fundraising goal of $130,000 to pay for the statue and is backed by the Warren County commissioners. A bronze donor appreciation plaque will appear in front. They said they are asking the City of Mason to donate $10,000. (They also said that the city of Lebanon promised to give $1 more than Mason.)
They also stated they need local champions to make the trail happen. They can help identify places and items to put on the trail here. I suggested perhaps they connect with the Mason Historical Society and Mason Community Players as they already collaborate on a cemetery walk.
July 15, 2025
Art Park
I shared that I reported on the Arts park project with Park Board. The board members are supportive and excited about the project, and they definitely have the bigger picture in mind. They want to make sure this park is integrated into the citywide master plan for the parks, and they want to know what’s taking so long getting that master plan done. We’ve been talking about it for over a year.
Eric, the city manager, reported that he and Joe, the city Finance Director, met with Char Pelfrey. He explained to her that while the city isn’t in position NOW to fund the art park, it can be in a couple of years, because some bonds are coming due.
Eric also explained that talking about the park master plan is always the preamble to getting it done.
We as a committee discussed how to phase out projects and when you have to do a full chunk at a time (you can add a road when doing multi-use paths, but you should do all the grading at the same time).
Mayor Nelson requested that staff move forward writing an RFP for the Gould Park project and asked if it could happen by the next meeting. Staff said no, but perhaps in 2 months.
Heritage Oak Park
Diana requested a plan for a phased approach to Heritage Oak because the current rough estimate to complete all upgrades is $24 million. We can’t do it all at once, but Eric said we can peel off portions for engineering to work on.
We also discussed making changes from Heritage’s master plan (like adding restrooms near the soccer fields, rather than in the center, and putting the new multi-use path, both of which could be done next year.) We also discussed adding a restroom trailer near the tennis courts and baseball fields this summer. This should go in the next month or two.
The committee discussed the placement of an outdoor amphitheater. Multiple places have been identified over the last several years, and we agreed that we need to hold off and see what recommendations and ideas come from the Mason mile project plan, which releases in August.
Mason Symphony Orchestra
We received an update that the orchestra has shared their 2026 and 2027 budget proposals with the city, and they have some very exciting plans in the works, including the Violins of Hope.
