Parks seeking input on priorities for next five years

A preliminary evaluation of Columbus city parks shows local parks are good, but not quite great.

That ranking information is included in an initial draft of a needs assessment presented May 25 to Columbus Park Board members by Ryan P. Cambridge, a planning practice leader for consultant Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf of Indianapolis.

Local residents are invited to participate in the process of helping the parks department determine its priorities for the next five years by attending a visioning workshop at Donner Center, one of the facilities being evaluated, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, which will be preceded by an invitation-only stakeholder meeting earlier that day.

The new parks master plan will determine the capital budget for parks spending for the next five years and will include a decision on the future of Donner Center, parks and recreation department director Mark Jones said.

For more on this story, see Saturday’s Republic.