Far Northwest Coalition

SEPT 2010 FNWC MINUTES

Far Northwest Coalition

Columbus, OH

September 29, 2010

The Far Northwest Coalition (FNWC) met for its regularly scheduled meeting at the Northwest Library on Hard Road.  Members present were John Murley, Mike Brown and Rich Herner.

Maureen Lorenz of the City of Columbus Recreation and Parks Department made a presentation to the FNWC and the assembled residents about the parkland on Hard Road.  There was an extensive discussion about the possible uses of the land.  She noted that the City would like to put a full facility on the land but funds are just currently not available to do that.  She said the City had allowed the adjacent home developer to use the land as ingress/egress to their project.  In return, the developer was to mow and maintain the property.

Ms. Lorenz said the is a limited budget that has been set aside for the land and noted probably some walking trails and a limited parking lot could be established with those funds.  She would like to sit down and have input from the community about what residents would like to see in the park; especially the possible uses with the limited funds currently available to the city for projects like this.

A question was asked about fencing the area off to keep people from cutting through private property to access the area.  Ms. Lorenz noted that the City by design does not fence in any of its parklands, and would not be fencing this area either.  Another question was asked about potentially dangerous hanging limbs in the woods area and how the City could address that.  She said the City has a separate maintenance crew that does nothing but trees, limbs, etc.  She said call the City and let them know where the limbs, etc. are located and the City would try and get the crew to the area.

The discussion closed with a list being compiled of the area residents in attendance with email addresses to try and get a group together to talk about the plan for the park and the local area.

Patrick Piccininni, a candidate for Common Pleas Court Judge then gave a short presentation the group on his candidacy; he said he had been going around to all of the civic association meetings and talking with residents.

There being no further business to come before the FNWC, the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Rich Herner

FNWC Secretary