Park Board, May 2025
The Park Board met on Thursday, May 8, 2025.
Report from Rachel Kopfler, Director Parks & Rec Foundation
Began in 2006, first project was Common Ground Playground.
2018 Makino made their commitment and things really started moving
Adam Ayer’s and Rachel worked 3 years to get state budget funding for the playground - communicated that accessible playgrounds are for adults too (parents, grandparents, etc.)
FC Cincinnati came in. Kevin Collin’s, president of fan council and part of foundation, donated enclosed accessible mini-pitch. This was a huge win for everyone.
Challenger fields third installment of the park.
Current board - looking at what new focus could/should be.
Shade structures - can they get grants from dermatology orgs for this?
Benches
Scholarship fund - has $50,000 currently
who would be good board members? New director (Rachel would love to move into an advisory role)
depending on what they’re working on, quarterly meetings with monthly when working on a project
work together on how to make something happen as a 501c3. How to fundraise.
lots of volunteer time
Could also discuss changing the focus of the foundation (become Mason community foundation, for example)
Joy suggested connecting with the team working on planning a new Arts park. She and Rachel discussed this as a way to fundraise for art to go into the park. Pigs in Cincinnati, butterflies in Lakeland, Florida - put them around town, and funds raised could go to the arts park.)
Update from Parks Director, Chrissy Avery
First long course swim meet at aquatic center - 50meter format. Had best 2 teams in Ohio competing (Mason and Central Ohio Aquatics team). Fri-Sun (Easter week)
Mini horse yoga in outside studio D, 18 people participated. 2-3 horses there.
This Saturday is muffins with mom in kids korner
summer camp registration, rec rays, manta rays going into long course season
community center programming shifts to daytime
Aquatic Center: Open weekends leading up to Memorial Day (these are preseason hours for aquatic center and splash pad: 12 - 5pm). Regular season hours, 11am - 7pm, run from Memorial to Labor Day at the aquatic center.
Memorial Day hours: Community Center open 6-noon, aquatic center 11-7. Free access to the community center week of the 17th, to the aquatic center week of Memorial Day for veterans. Info under Memorial Day tab on website.
Parade and celebration planned for Monday, May 26, at 10am.
Plan for June meeting - review park rules.
