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TORONTO -- After hearing from a local man who hopes to develop a skateboarding park for the city and concerns from affected residents, Toronto's planning and zoning commission unanimously agreed Tuesday to rezone the former Lincoln School playground for that use.
Development of the park will next come before Toronto Council at its Oct. 23 meeting.
A.J. Hunt, a Columbiana County businessman and former Toronto resident, told the commission his interest is only in providing a recreational facility for youth at the city's north end and the park could include playground equipment.
"I'm not going to make any money on it. My goal is to raise money, invest it in the property and give it to the city" said Hunt, who added he's received about $2,000 in donations and expects more.
Mayor John Parker said a skateboarding park was considered in 2017 when the city applied for a grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to develop that, a basketball court and a dog park on the former playground on North Fourth Street.
Parker said the plans for the skateboarding park didn't move forward because the city failed to secure sufficient property for it.
Bill Lucas, chairman of the planning commission, noted after Lincoln School was closed, two parcels of the property was acquired by Shawn Irwin.
Hunt said Irwin and his wife, Val, donated the parcels to him.
Lucas said after the city acquired its portion of the property, its zoning was changed from public use to residential because it was surrounded by residential property.
The panel heard Tuesday from three of the former playground's neighbors.
Resident Anthony Targoss asked about the proposed park's impact on adjacent property values and parking for it. He said since the dog park was established, parked vehicles have created congestion on Belmont Street, especially when church services are being held nearby.
Targoss said he grew up on the city's north end and "literally grew up on that playground," so he's not opposed to a playground there but is concerned about its maintenance.
Lucas said if the park were donated to the city, it would be responsible for it, including an additional $50 per year needed for liability insurance.
Hunt said recreational opportunities help to attract new residents, especially young families, and would be better than a vacant lot.
Tim Sites, an associate of Hunt, said he lives by a skateboarding park in Imperial, Pa., and he sees many families gathered there. He added for security, its gates are locked at night.
Parker said the city has done much to develop parks at the city's south end, leading some to suggest more is needed in the north end.
Lucas noted there are privately owned playgrounds, developed by the owners of apartment complexes, at the north end, but the nearest city playground is at the former site of Toronto High School near North River Avenue.
Hunt said he envisions a playground and shelter at the site, while Parker said it should be possible to create parking spaces on the lot.
Lucas said he's aware that parks in larger cities can attract trouble, including drug dealing, but he doesn't see that happening in Toronto.
Resident Donna Twyford said while she was resistant initially to a dog park at the site, she's found that it's well maintained by the city and not a disturbance.
But Twyford said she is concerned about criminal activity.
"I think we're very naive to think this couldn't happen in Toronto. It could," she said, adding because skateboarding parks are rarer in the Ohio Valley, it would be likely to attract visitors from other areas.
Resident Steve Wostas said youth may gather in the proposed shelter to drink and smoke.
"You don't want a lot of riffraff there, which is what a lot of people are concerned about," said Wostas.
He added he has dogs that would be disturbed by strangers in the nearby lot and asked if a solid fence could be built around it.
Lucas said aside from some minor vandalism at the Michael Simpson Park at the city's south end, there's not been any trouble there or at other city parks.
Parker said a picnic table at the park was written on but the youth responsible were discovered through surveillance cameras and were ordered to pay restitution.
He said a fence, cameras and additional lighting could be installed at the skateboarding park.
Earlier in a hearing on the issue held by the commission, Hunt told residents, "There's not a worry or concern you have that I wouldn't have as a homeowner. The thing is compromising and knowing what it's going to take to make you feel comfortable."
Parker said, "I think there's more than a willingness to work with everybody."
Lucas said the mayor and other city officials "will do what's best to accommodate their concerns."
"I think all of the concerns you have are controllable," he told the residents.
Fellow board member Clark Crago said he doesn't want the lot to become an eyesore.
Board member Russ Kuntz supported rezoning the lot but cautioned a 24-hour skateboarding park "doesn't seem like a good fit for that neighborhood."
Parker said the city's parks normally close at dusk.
He said currently city police have to chase skateboarders from areas not suited for it and the park would provide a good outlet for them.
"I don't think kids who use skateboarding parks get into any more trouble than kids who play on Little League fields," said Parker.
"Not every kid plays sports. What are we doing for those kids?" he asked.