Tuesday, August 18, 1998
Funds sought for city walkway to fairgrounds
By Malinda Ruble
Staff Writer
Tiffin Park and Recreation Director Judy Purdum is looking for some extra money. About $57,000.
Purdum hopes to install a walkway from Sandusky Street to Hopewell Avenue.
''It will hook to the Mad River walkway or the Benner Street walkway and go all of the way to the (Seneca County) fairgrounds. It'll be less than one mile long,'' she said.
Purdum met with the Seneca County Commissioners and Tim Berlekamp, director of the Ottawa, Sandusky, Seneca Joint Solid Waste Management District, regarding funding for the project.
''I submitted a grant application to the OSS and I didn't realize there was a cap on grants. So one of the options was to come back and do it as a special project,'' Purdum said.
Purdum had hoped the walkway could be constructed with recycled rubber, but Berlekamp said recycled glass or vitrified china may be a better option.
''We've never done a narrow patch with crumb (rubber),'' Berlekamp said. ''You may want to think about putting glass in it or vitrified china. I would be cautious about using a rubber-mix if there is going to be blading or skateboarding on it.''
Purdum said if she can find a monetary match for the project, she believes the city would also provide funding.
''I think the city will go ahead and do it, if we have any kind of match,'' she said.
Commissioner Janet Dell said the project could be a first for the state.
''I think we could have it as a pilot project for Ohio. I think it would be an especially good project to use recycled materials for. I think it sounds like a good project and I like the idea of people being able to walk to the fairgrounds,'' Dell said.
Purdum will present her project to the OSS board next month.
''We're just trying to give people different ways to get around town without always jumping in the car,'' she said.