Village Expands Parks Advisory Board

By Jim Goetz Parks Board Chair

You can’t drive through Mariemont without being struck by the beauty of the Village’s trees, parks and greenspaces. Our Village Council recognizes the value of these natural assets and the need to preserve and protect them for the next hundred years and generations to follow.

Council previously established the Tree Advisory Board and now Councilman Randy York, and the Health and Recreation Committee that he chairs, have championed an initiative to reinvigorate and expand the Village’s Parks Advisory Board to focus additional attention on these key Village assets.

Council established, by ordinance, the Park Board to “oversee, plan and make recommendations to the Mayor and Council regarding conservation, management and development as necessary of the Village’s parks and greenspaces for the benefit of the entire Village.”

A group of volunteers has been meeting over the past few months to discuss how the Parks Advisory Board can most effectively serve the community and provide advice and assistance to the Village Council. The volunteers, who have recently been appointed by Mayor Brown to be Board members, include Jim Goetz (Chair), Steve Pipkin, Brad Lockhart, Carolyn Hohl, Jerry Stephens, Leigh Sullivan, Tom Eckardt, John McIlwraith, Kyle Kropog, Mike Sunderman, Greg Wells, and Frank Marzullo.

Board Charter

Board membership has been expanded to allow for up to 13 volunteer members who will serve for two-year terms. A Charter has been developed by the Board to establish its key goals and objectives as well as the roles and responsibilities of its members. The primary goal established by the Board is to “provide strategic master planning and oversight for the long-term vision and preservation of the Village’s parks and greenspaces to ensure they meet the needs of the community while being sensitive to the John Nolen vision for Mariemont.”

Each Village park and greenspace has a unique character and collectively provide a wide range of opportunity for utilization by the community. We are fortunate to have parks that provide space for recreational activities, a bird sanctuary, shared biking/jogging/walking paths, natural woodlands and everything in between. The Board plans to work with the community to develop master plans for each of these spaces and to identify short term and long-term projects to implement those plans. This effort will provide a road map for projects to be equitably prioritized and initiated as funds become available.

The Board also plans to be a strong advocate for environmental protection and conservation and will work with schools and community organizations to encourage environmental and outdoor educational programming in our parks. The Board, with the help of neighbors, will strive to monitor maintenance and repair needs to ensure our parks are safe and welcoming to everyone who visits.

You can find the complete Charter posted on the Park Board page of the Village’s updated website at mariemont.org/village-boardsand-commissions/mariemont-parks-board

2025 Plan of Work

A Plan of Work for 2025 has been adopted by the new Board and it is well on its way to accomplishing this year’s goals. Board members have each selected a particular park or greenspace to act as its “Champion” and will work to build groups of neighbors and friends to volunteer, plan and promote their park. The Board also plans to strengthen or establish working relationships with community organizations and businesses it has identified as “Key Partners” in its role of park advocates.

The 2025 Plan of Work includes a variety of actions including: assessing the current condition of each Village park and greenspace; compiling an updated list of all parks and greenspaces to elevate community awareness and utilization of each; proposing a “Preferred Style” for benches placed throughout the Village to establish a consistent visual standard; and beginning the master planning process for each park and greenspace, including public engagement sessions.

Spring Blitz

A new initiative the Park Board is planning will be a “Spring Blitz” to clean up our parks and greenspaces after the effects of an extreme winter season. The Board plans to collaborate with other groups such as Sustainable Mariemont and Mariemont Racquet Club, which are planning similar activities this spring. The first target for our Blitz will be Mary Emery Park, in collaboration with the Racquet Club on March 1 with a backup rain date of March 8. Watch for upcoming announcements and postings on the Park Board webpage about the dates and volunteer opportunities planned for the Blitz and join your neighbors in helping to spruce up our beautiful parks and greenspaces for the year.

We Welcome Your Input

If you have questions, comments or suggestions for the Park Board, feel free to reach out to us at our new email address mariemontparks@gmail.com. You can also watch for the rollout of new Park Board social media sites soon. We look forward to seeing you in the parks!