The parks director reported high participation at the city’s aquatics facilities this summer, continued splash‑pad use into September and an active season of lessons and visits. Staff said the splash pad remains open through September and that overall visits and lesson participation exceeded expectations.

Staff also described a new partnership with GRIN (a local food‑access nonprofit) to accept surplus produce from community garden plots at Hannah Park and Friendship Park. Staff said signage at those gardens now instructs participants that they may leave excess produce for staff to collect and deliver to GRIN; Brenda, executive director of GRIN, helped initiate the effort. Staff described the effort as a first‑year pilot that produced donations (for example, zucchini) and said discussions are underway to expand raised beds where community interest is high.

Board members asked about a community garden installed beside Rockwood Dry Cleaners; staff said the plot was “wildly successful,” reporting that participants maintained and harvested the vegetables and that GRIN is supportive of expanding troughs for more raised garden beds.

On trails and facilities, staff said the mountain‑bike trail work at Schall Park included removal of asphalt and reseeding to turf and that a permanent skatepark location has not been identified. Staff said residents inquired about possible sites such as Laura McCorkle (location referenced by the public) but that no site has been selected. Regarding the new mountain‑bike trail, staff described recent meetings with trail users and said a cooperative work plan with Columbus Academy is yielding “positive momentum” for trail maintenance and student leadership opportunities.

A board member asked whether motorized bikes are allowed on the new trail. A staff member said class‑1 electric bicycles are allowed but that mopeds are not.

Finally, committee reports included an announcement that a traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial will be at Veterans Memorial Park Oct. 2–6; volunteers are needed and staff said sign‑up information (coordinated through local VFW contacts and volunteers Tom and Becky Neland) will be circulated.

These items were reported as informational; no formal board action was taken on the partnerships or facility updates during the meeting.