T-L Photo/GAGE VOTA Memorial park board member Conrad Heydle, on left, and Park manager Kate Banks spread the word that the 0.5 mill renewal levy for Memorial Park will be on the May 5 ballot.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE – A 0.5-mill renewal levy for Memorial Park will be on the May 5 ballot for St. Clairsville and Richland Township.

The five-year levy will cost residents just $11 per $100,000 in property value.

Park board member Conrad Heydle said the original levy was passed in 2007, and since then, it has been renewed every five years by voters.

“Since we passed the levy last time, we’ve completely refurbished the Allen Pool bathhouse. The men’s and women’s sides now have new restrooms, new changing booths, and new showers. That was completely redone. That was our big project,” Heydle said. “At the JC shelter, we had a ceiling put in and new picnic tables. Then, next to the JC shelter, there was an older, smaller playground where we were able to install new equipment.”

He added that the park’s tennis courts were also resurfaced.

“The last time they were resurfaced was about 11 years ago. The pickleball courts were also resurfaced at the same time, at the end of last summer,” Heydle said. “The basketball court had been lined in the past, but it never had a sports surface. Now we have a proper sports surface.”

He explained that the sports surface mixture is placed over the asphalt of the court, making it look nicer and improving its usability.

Heydle said that in partnership with the city and St. Clairsville High School, the park recently completed the turf project on the high school baseball field.

“They’ve had no games canceled this year because we now have turf,” he said. “The old infield would go underwater with even light rain, so that’s been a big plus.”

Heydle also noted that several general maintenance projects have been completed, including work on the five shelters, the pool, the playground, and the grounds around the park.

“We’re always upgrading or replacing things that need attention,” Heydle said. “We’re also working on a future project: the extension of the playground. We’re going to add two intergenerational swings and a saucer swing. That should still leave us space to add more equipment in the future.”

He added that the board hasn’t yet decided what additional equipment or when it will be added.

“On the big playground, there’s an empty area right now where we’re planning to add a new piece of equipment in the future,” Heydle said.

He also expressed excitement about the addition of the intergenerational swing, which allows a child and parent to swing together, facing each other.

“A lot of playgrounds across Ohio have these, so we’ve wanted to add one for a while,” he said.

Heydle plans to pave several parking lots in the near future.

“The parking lot by the pool, in front of the pavilion, and the one near the walking trail will all be paved soon,” he said.

Another project the board will begin soon is the installation of steps leading to the basketball court.

“There are no steps down there, except by the pickleball courts. I know I’m afraid to go down there at this point,” Heydle said. “So we’re going to install steps leading to the basketball court.”

Heydle also mentioned plans to upgrade the refreshment stand at the pool.

“The stand is pretty much the way it was 60 years ago,” he said. “There were a few minor upgrades in the early 2000s, but since then, nothing has been done, and it really needs a lot of work. We’re looking to address that too.”

He acknowledged that as time goes on, additional projects may come up that the park board will consider.

“We’re so grateful that the levy has been passed for the last 20 years. We’ve been able to do so much to improve the park,” Heydle said. “I believe it’s passed for so long because residents see the work the park board does and appreciate it.”

“We just want to keep doing good things for the people of St. Clairsville and Richland Township,” he added.