200 South Hamilton Road

Gahanna, Ohio 43230

City of Gahanna

Meeting Minutes

Parks & Recreation Board

Jan Ross, Chair

Eric Miller, Vice Chair

Ken Shepherd, Secretary

Chrissy Kaminski

Harvey McCleskey

Kevin McGinn

Donna Simmons

Nichole Butler, Clerk

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

7:00 PM

Gahanna City Hall, Council Chambers

CALL MEETING TO ORDER

The July 16, 2025 meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board was

called to order at 7:01 PM. The agenda was published on July 11,

2025.

ROLL CALL

Staff in Attendance: Zac Guthrie, Parks Manager; Joe Hebdo, Golf

Superintendent; Nichole Butler, Clerk

5 - Chrissy Kaminski, Donna Simmons, Jan Ross, Ken Shepherd and Harvey

McCleskey

Present:

2 - Kevin McGinn and Eric Miller

Absent:

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

A motion was made by Shepherd, seconded by Simmons that the June 18,

2025 Minutes be approved. The motion carried the following vote.

5 - Kaminski, Simmons, Ross, Shepherd and McCleskey

2 - McGinn and Miller

Yes:

Absent:

PR Board Minutes 06.18.2025

ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA

Ross requested to add a donation request for the Gahanna Parks &

Recreation Foundation to new business.

HEARING OF VISITORS

CORRESPONDENCE AND ACTIONS

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

NEW BUSINESS

GOLF UPDATE

Guthrie presented an update on the Gahanna Golf Course. Guthrie

highlighted that 2025 is the 50th anniversary of the Gahanna

Municipal Golf course and a celebration of this will take place August

1st thru the 3rd at the course. Guthrie noted that Joe Hebdo, Golf

Superintendent, was promoted as part of a reorganization and Krista

Johnston was promoted to Golf Supervisor as part of a

reclassification. Guthrie highlighted that in 2025 the Golf Ranger

program became a paid part time position. Guthrie noted that in 2025,

10 new golf carts were purchased, a new rough area mower, and a

new greens mower. Guthrie stated that there have also been cameras

installed throughout the course that have been helpful to identify

issues after hours and damages to the course. Shepherd asked if the

cameras are in higher locations where they cannot be damaged.

Hebdo stated that the poles are 16ft and with the camera location it is

about 12ft off the ground. Guthrie noted they are solar powered

cameras.

Hebdo stated that there are several events that have or will be

taking place in 2025. Hebdo highlighted the return of the Chilli Bowl

this spring, and Greenskeepers Revenge which will take place in the

fall and was very successful in 2024. Hebdo stated that Starting New

At Golf (SNAG) and Sips and Tips are both educational golf programs

that have seen success in 2025. Hebdo Highlighted that as of the date

of this meeting, program attendance is at around 233 participants

compared to 2024, 124 program participants. Hebdo noted that in

2024, the Greenskeepers Revenge had an attendance of 211

participants. Simmons asked what the Greenskeepers Revenge was.

Hebdo stated that he and his staff set obstacles throughout the course

that people golf around.

Hebdo stated that so far in 2025 the golf course has been open 84

days out of the 114 since opening day in March. Hebdo stated that in

2024 the course was open 95 out of 121 days. Hebdo highlighted that

the year-to-date revenue in 2025 for the golf course was $288,238 as

compared to the $265,001 in 2024 and noted that year-to-date rounds

of golf for 2025 are at around 12,793. Hebdo stated that the prices

went up in 2025 for rounds of golf at around $1 per round.

Ross stated that she saw in the directors’ report there was some

damage to the course. Guthrie stated that was part of the reasoning

behind the purchase of the course cameras, stating that they believe

there have been some motorized scooters use on the course causing

damage to the course. Ross stated there was a note in the directors’

report about damage to the clubhouse. Guthrie stated that there was

damage to the floor in the clubhouse by a rental but the damage was

able to be repaired and that the renter pays a security deposit and part

was withheld for that repair.

GPRF Hops and Vines Donation Request

Ross stated that the request is an annual request from the foundation

for the Hops & Vines event. Ross stated that the donation will be used

to auction or raffle towards the focus of this year’s event which is the

outdoor space at the Exploration Center at Price Road.

Donation Request: Gahanna Parks & Recreation Foundation (Hops

and Vines)

1- 4 Hour Hannah Shelter rental (Max Value $300)

1- GMAC Rental (Value $250)

1- Family (1) pool pass (Max Value $375)

12- 9 hole golf course passes (Value $144)

Total Max Value: $1,069

A motion was made by Simmons, second by Kaminski, that the

request be approved as presented.

The

motion carried the following vote:

Yes: - Kaminski, McCleskey, Ross, Shepherd and Simmons

Absent: Miller, McGinn

DIRECTOR'S REPORT

Guthrie highlighted that the Price Road Exploration Center Bids were

opened and have since closed and that there were 5 bids for the

project. Guthrie noted the team was happy with the quality of bids that

were received. Shepherd asked if the bids go to specific companies.

Guthrie stated that it is a public bid process per Ohio Revised Code

and there is a specific process to follow with communication and how

it is processed. Guthrie stated the city uses Bid Express to promote

and manage those bid processes where companies can submit their

bids. Guthrie stated the Academy Park Improvements project is in

process with POD Designs and the city and they are working towards

final concepts. Simmons asked if the concession stand at Academy

Park is being torn down. Guthrie stated yes, as the project includes

relocation of the shelter and combination of the shelter and trail head,

as well as relocation of the playground and renovations to the parking

lot, and some of the multi-use paths.

Guthrie stated that Julie Predieri and the forestry team are in the

process of doing a tree inventory for those trees in the active areas of

the parks. Guthrie stated that it would be difficult to inventory every

tree in the over 800 acres of parks however it will also include street

trees and anticipate that to be completed in 2025. Guthrie noted this

will assist with asset and maintenance management. Guthrie stated

that as part of the 2025 staffing requests, there was an addition of a

forestry foreman to oversee park trees, and this allowed for the

existing foreman to focus on street trees.

Guthrie highlighted the senior center and how well their staff are

providing programming for the seniors. Guthrie stated that aquatics is

up 132 memberships compared to last year and there were increases

to staffing and swim lessons as well. Guthrie stated that the events

team hosted over 10,000 at the fireworks held at the Gahanna Golf

course and they should be able to provide a more accurate number

next month. Guthrie noted that the Creekside Blues and Jazz Festival,

hosted by Visit Gahanna, went well and is heavily supported by the

department as well as other city departments like police and service.

Guthrie stated that the seasonal employment number was around 238

people.

PR- June Directors Report

COMMITTEE REPORTS

i. Bicycle & Trail Advisory Committee (BTAC)

None

ii. Gahanna Active Senior Advisory Committee (GASAC)

Simmons stated they met Tuesday July 15, 2025. Simmons stated

that there are 577 members as of their meeting yesterday. Simmons

highlighted that Tai Chi Chu was introduced recently by request of the

members, and many of the programs were sold out. Simmons stated

that the second new passenger van has been delivered and is being

put to use. Simmons noted that the new vans have a step and a grab

rail which has been extremely helpful to its members. Simmons stated

the Senior Expo is returning on September 18th 2025 at the Gahanna

Sanctuary.