ZANESVILLE - The city of Zanesville is in the early stages of planning a new park near the Y Bridge.
However, officials expects to apply for a grant to help purchase 3 parcels of land along the Licking River to create the park. Zanesville Mayor Don Mason hopes the land, nearly 12 acres, will help anchor development along three major routes in the city.
"Whenever we invest money, we want to make sure we can create synergy," the mayor said. "My goal is to create a revitalization effort going down West Main Street, and with reopening Dug Road (Muskingum Avenue), we can start to attract outside investment dollars."
The new park would anchor Linden Avenue as well, Mason said. "So we are creating a corridor all the way to 2200 Linden Avenue, the former Lear property."
The working title for the park is Y Bridge Confluence Park. It would feature passive attractions, like hiking, picnicking, and possibly fishing in the Licking River.
The city does not have a current appraised value for the property, which is owned by the Muskingum County Community Foundation.
According to the Muskingum County Auditor's website a little more than 6 aces of the property was appraised for $37,900 in 2018. Part of the remaining acreage was valued at $15,300 the same year.
However, to acquire the property after a new appraisal, the city will apply for a grant through the Ohio Public Works Commission's Clean Ohio Fund. First the grant will go through the Buckeye Hills Regional Council's Natural Resources Assistance Council, who will decide whether to recommend the grant to the OPWC.
Zanesville City Council will hear a pair of ordinances during session on Monday related to the new park, the first to authorize the city to apply for the grant, the second to enter into a purchase agreement with the MCCF to purchase the property. The amount of the grant depends on the appraised value of the three parcels. The grant would cover 75% of the cost to purchase and develop the property, with the city covering the remaining 25%.
Should the community foundation sell the property to the city for 75% of the appraised value, the grant would cover the entire project.
One of the conditions of the grant is that the property would be used for passive recreation and conservation, which would exclude sports fields and the like.
"We think this is a great project that is going to benefit the North, South, East and West," said Matthew Schley, the city's community development director. "It is a going to be a great gateway to the city."
The grant application is due Oct. 16, which means council will have to waive readings of the ordinances on Monday. Schley said he expects to hear from the OPWC in November, with the process of land acquisition possibly starting in December.
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August 19, 2020 at 06:42PM
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City looking to purchase property, create new park along Licking River - Zanesville Times Recorder
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