City-county park ownership, duties set to shift

FINDLAY — Legislation that would transfer ownership of two city parks to the Hancock County Park District has been introduced to Findlay City Council. The legislation would transfer the ownership of River Landings, the former city dog pound, 700 Fox St., and Centennial Park on Hemphill Street, to the county park district. The park district has managed both facilities under an agreement with the city that dates to 1976. The original agreement allowed the property to be transferred if both sides agreed. In letters to council, dated March 9, Service-Safety Director Rob Martin said the transfers will match ownership with how the parks have been managed for years. The property actions are part of a broader update to the city's cooperative agreements with the park district. Martin said many of the existing agreements no longer reflected current operations. He said Gary Pruitt, park district director, began discussions in 2025 to modernize the documents. Revisions were reviewed by both the law director and the city's Park and Recreation Board and approved unanimously by the park district board in February. Under the updated agreements, the city will resume maintenance of all multi-use paths within city limits except the path around the park district building, 1424 E. Main Cross St. The city will also take over full operations at Riverside Park, 231 McManness Ave., including rentals at the Waterfall Pavilion and Zonta Landing. Martin wrote that rental revenue is expected to offset most of the added maintenance. He said the new maintenance and cost-sharing agreement gives the city a five-year planning window for projects and includes the park district contributing 50% of material costs for qualifying work. Martin said the transfers and updated agreements "honor the original intent of agreements dating back to 1976, provide clarity of responsibility, improve operational efficiency and ensure both organizations can plan responsibly for the long-term maintenance of our shared public assets." The legislation is expected to receive a second reading at the next regular meeting of council on April 7.