ASHLAND — Ashland Mayor Matt Miller on Tuesday suggested the city use federal Community Development Block Grant dollars on the development of a new park along West 11th Street, which has been unofficially named “Lincoln Park.”
The city expects to receive $150,000 from the federal program, which is distributed every two years to non-entitlement communities from the Ohio Development Services Agency.
After using around $4,500 of the CDBG allocation for the city’s fair housing initiative, that would leave Ashland around $145,000 to use for the new park, Miller said.
The mayor made the suggestion to city council Tuesday night during Ashland’s required second hearing on the matter.
Council held its first hearing last month, in which council discussed eligible uses of the money.
Projects have a wide range — from demolition to energy conservation — but each must benefit low- and moderate-income people, according to the federal department of Housing and Urban Development.
Local projects have in years past involved water-line replacements, replacing city hall’s elevator and installing a wheelchair ramp at the Guy C. Myers Bandshell.
Miller said the 30 W. 11th St. property is located in an area of the city in which people of low- to moderate-income level live.
“And so it does qualify (for CDBG funds),” he said of the project.
City and Ashland city schools officials have been discussing the possibility of installing a park there for months.
The plan
The plan is for the city to buy the 1.4-acre property for $1,000 from the Ashland City School district. The property, now vacant, used to house Lincoln Elementary School.
It was first built in 1911 and closed in 2013. It was then razed in 2015.
Officials did not discuss a timeline for the project — the city doesn’t own the property yet. However, city council signed a purchase agreement in March.
Miller expected the project to cost more than $150,000. He hopes the other financial portion will be covered by philanthropists.
“I personally think it’s a great use of that money,” said Council President Steve Workman.