Mayor says new park plan chance of a lifetime

CELINA - Eight acres of property near the lakeshore, tentatively called the Bryson Park District, could become the city's crown jewel and spur communitywide economic development, mayor Jeff Hazel said Wednesday night.

"We've got an opportunity of a lifetime here," Hazel told members of the new Celina Parks Advisory Board and the public at the city administration building.

City councilman June Scott spoke of his childhood memories of visiting Edgewater Park to hear the likes of Tommy Dorsey and spending time at the nearby amusement park.

"This is my hometown and knowing what it used to be like and how people came here for a purpose and came here to enjoy what Celina had ... I think this is the start of that kind of thinking," he said.

Before the swing bands and merry-go-rounds return, the advisory commitee must come up with a long-term plan for the former Mercelina Mobile Court and Versa Pak properties the city will take possession of in the coming weeks. Perhaps most importantly, officials must secure significant funding for what Jim Mustard, a grant writer representing the Celina Rotary Club, envisions as a multimillion dollar endeavor.

"Let's face it, these things cost big bucks and they cost even more dollars to maintain so there has to be some money rolling in for that," he said. The city's budget cannot absorb those costs, he said.

Mustard and others have their sights set on winning a grant of up to $3 million from Frontier Communications to pay for park development.

"You have to have a project, and it has to be a project that once you start it, it's going to be seen as a ripple effect economically for the community," he said about the grant's requirements.

Communities in Frontier's 27-state territory are eligible for the grants, which include awards of $1 million, $2 million and $3 million. Mustard is extremely optimistic about Celina's chances. The award will be given to nonprofit, 501C3 organizations, a status held by both the Celina Rotary Club and the Mercer County Civic Foundation, Hazel said. Those organizations likely will play a role in the process.

The first deadline is March 25. Frontier will award $35,000 to 50 applicants, which must provide a $15,000 match. That money would pay for an economic development consultant to further assist Celina in developing a more detailed application for future rounds, he said.

"It's a person to advise us ... advising us on how to get the most out of what we're doing in terms of economic development," Mustard said. The top awards will not be presented until May 2017, Mustard said.

Commitee member Deb Borns, representing Coldwell Banker, asked if officials are putting all their eggs in one basket with the Frontier grant.

They are not, Mustard replied.

"I have two other sources (of money) we won't talk about and the total of that money is almost twice the $3 million grant," he said.

Hazel also noted the city had received a letter from an anonymous person who committed $100,000 to a park project.

He also emphasized nothing will be done until money is secured, a process that could take two to three years.

"We're not building until we have that money," he said.

"Let's just take our time. This has been like this for years. I'd rather not rush into it," city councilman Jeff Larmore said.

Commitee member and former city safety service director Mike Sovinski stressed the committee's main goal is to implement the community's desires for the property.

"Whether you know or not, the recreational aspect of this whole area is the second-largest employer in the whole Mercer County," Mustard said. "This is going to be for family activities and event activities."

Hazel said a deed restriction on the former Mercelina property prevents the city from developing anything but a park there.

"It's not like we're going to sell off lots for businesses and shops and stores. That's not going to happen. That can't happen," Hazel said.

Hazel also dismissed rumors city officials are trying to implement a lakefront master plan rejected by voters early last decade.

"This is not that master plan. This is another unique opportunity that Celina had," he said.

Neither does the city want to remove Lake Shore Drive nor build condos and hotels, as were proposed by the original master plan, Hazel said.       The land is a blank slate at this point, he said.

"This is about Celina. It's not about council; it's not about me; it's not about one or two individuals," Hazel said.