Wiehl Gets Approval for NatureWorks Grant

Mayor Paul Wiehl was given the go-ahead to start applying for the NatureWorks Grant to improve Athens County’s recreational services.At-Large Rep. Steve Patterson announced the approval for the city to apply for the grant. Patterson is working with Rich Campitelli, the Director of Arts, Park and Recreation to come up with a number of projects to apply for.The city is looking into projects that would enhance the accessibility of different parks. There are plans for rubberized surfaces to be put in place at West State Street Park, Highland Park, or outside of the Athens Community Center. The installation of these rubberized surfaces would improve the accessibility for citizens with disabilities and make the playgrounds safer.A plan for improving the Athens tennis courts is also developing as a possibility.“That project would be an expensive project. We would look into other ways to get money in addition to the $30,000 we would receive from the grant,” Patterson said.The final project would be an access ramp by the pond within Sells Park.“Individuals that have wheel chairs, motorized power chairs, crutches, or a walker have no way to get there and this ramp would allow them to,” Patterson said.The NatureWorks Grant is a county competitive grant through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). It is granted to the county that shows the most need and use for the money. The amount of money awarded is determined by a population-based formula.The city had received the grant once before of $10,200 for the construction of the shelter house in West State Street Park. This year Athens County is eligible for $22,068. The county must be able to match the grant by 25 percent, according to the IDNR website.“It is competitive. They look to see which project makes the most sense and a lot of villages do not have the 25 percent match which prohibits them from applying,” Patterson said.The decision will be made this week as to which project will be chosen for the application; the deadline is May 1.“It is enhancing the recreational services that we are able to provide and making the city a better place,“ Patterson said