Future Improvements

🌿 Mansfield City Parks Improvement List: Important Considerations ðŸŒ¿

This list references planned park improvement projects since 2024 at Mansfield City Parks. Funding for Parks and Recreation is provided by the P.R.I.D.E. tax, which stands for Parks, Recreation, Illumination (Street lighting), Demolitions, and Emergency Services (Police /Fire) is a one-quarter percent municipal income tax voters approved in November 2013. Funds from the voter-approved tax are divided among those areas – 50% to Police/Fire, 22% to Parks & Recreation, 20% to Demolition, and 8% to Illumination. A comprehensive Master Plan for City Parks was developed in 2020; this plan is a factor in making future decisions. However, it’s essential to recognize that several factors can impact these projects. See below for an explanation and project lists.

P.R.I.D.E. Improvement Signs
North Lake Pavilion
Sterkel Park Playground for All
  1. Funding and Approvals:
    • The availability of funds and the approval process significantly influence project timelines.
    • Some projects may experience delays due to budget constraints or administrative procedures.
  2. Permitting and Regulations:
    • Compliance with federal, state, and local regulations is crucial.
    • The permitting process can introduce unforeseen delays.
  3. Material Availability and Supply Chain Challenges:
    • The availability of construction materials affects project execution.
    • Supply chain disruptions may impact delivery times.
  4. Weather Conditions:
    • Weather plays a pivotal role in outdoor projects.
    • Unfavorable weather (e.g., extreme heat and heavy rain) can affect construction schedules.
  5. Staffing Levels:
    • Adequate staffing is essential for efficient project implementation.
    • Staff shortages or other workforce-related issues may affect progress.
  6. Dynamic Project Updates:
    • This list is subject to change without notice.
    • Projects may be added or removed periodically to reflect their current status.

We appreciate your understanding and patience as we work to enhance Mansfield’s City parks. Together, we’ll create safe, clean outdoor green spaces for our community! 🌳

Status Legend:

[Pending] = Waiting for approvals, funding & plan designs * [In Progress] = Funds & Designs approved, Scheduling and Materials ordered * [Completed] = Project is inspected & finished per design.

1 . Airport Memorial Park

2. Burton Park

  • Install Pet Waste station & signage [Completed]
  • Replace the roof on the pavilion [Completed]
  • Repaving roads & parking lot [Completed]
  • Repairs to benches & picnic tables [Completed]
  • Community Mural Painting- Sunday, April 21, 2024 [Completed]
  • Renovation of pickleball courts [Pending]
  • Pressure cleaning building siding and concrete [Pending]
  • Install Mini Free Library box [Completed]
  • Adopt-a-Park agreement with Mansfield Lions Club [In Progress]
  • Plant a Native Pollinator Garden in the old sunflower field [In Progress planted December 2024]

3. Central Park

  • Garden & mulching plantings [Completed]
  • Paint and repair fountain & planters [Completed]
  • Fire Department Memorial stone installed [Completed]
  • Install Pet Waste station & signage [Completed]
  • Restoration & repairs to Vasbinder Fountain [Completed by July 2026] Rededication ceremony planned July 4, 2026 at 11am
  • Protective decorative bollards [Completed]
  • Clean & paint as needed – benches [In Progress]
  • Replace drinking fountain [In Progress]
  • Install gravel underneath the music playscape [Completed]
  • Installs protective bollards where street lights are missing [Completed]
  • Pressure wash and edge sidewalks [Completed]
  • Remove dead and hazardous trees- Shade Tree Commission approved[In Progress] Cutting dying or hazardous trees in Jan/Feb 2026
  • Plant replacement trees per Shade Tree Commission’s recommendations-[In Progress] Planting planned in spring 2026

4. Cyclops

  • Install Pet Waste station & signage [Completed]
  • Facitity lease agreement with Oasis of Love Church dba Oasis Sports Complex [In progress]
  • Replacement of field box outside stairs [Completed]
  • Field box lighting, windows, siding, doors & locks [Completed]
  • Renovation and repairs to the public restrooms [In Progress]
  • Repairs to baseball field turf, seating, and fencing [In progress]
  • Install new gates and repair fencing [Completed]
  • Replace entrance sign with new branding, city parks signage [Completed]
  • Improve entrance driveway off SR13 with two (2) concrete driveway aprons [Completed]
  • Grading and resurfacing gravel parking lot [Completed]
  • Roofing, gutters, and downspouts repaired [Completed]
  • Install security door locks and upgrades [Completed]
  • Playground improvements and impact zone material replaced- [In Progress]

5. Deer Park

  • Install Pet Waste station & signage [Completed]
  • Install NEW branded bike rack at trailhead access point [Completed]
  • Replace damaged Ohio Buckeye tree, plant and mulch new native trees [Completed]
  • Install a Bike Fix-It Station [Completed]
  • Make drainage improvements to reduce flooding by creek [In Progress]

6. Dickson Park

7. Fox Glen Park

  • Protective bollards to access roads [Completed]
  • Clean debris and overhanging trees [Completed]
  • Install bench [Completed]
  • Improved drainage and stormwater culvert repairs [In progress]
  • Fox Glen Trail Renewal – Fundraising goal of $60,000 for the .75-mile repaving of the trailway [Completed goal with $65,200] Paving to begin in Spring 2026
  • Community Citizen Group Adopt-a-Park Agreement [In progress]

8. John Todd Park

  • Install Pet Waste station & signage [Completed]
  • Gravel around pavilion posts [Completed]
  • Arrange playground slide configuration away from the street side [Completed]
  • Relocated playground equipment from the lower park to the new location by the restroom area [Completed]
  • Allow the lower parkland to grow naturally with no new development to protect forest trees and native plants [In Progress] Conservation Easement approved in 2025
  • Restroom painting and cleaning [Completed]
  • Electric outlets and lighting at the pavilion [Pending]
  • Playground Equipment Improvements [Completed]
  • General groundskeeping and maintenance improvements [In Progress]
  • Community Citizen Group Adopt-a-Park Agreements [Pending]
  • New Restroom Occupancy door locks installed [Completed]
  • Trash & Recycling Receptacles- [In Progress]
  • Basketball courts resurfaced and repaired [In progress]

9. Johns Park

  • Install Pet Waste station & signage [Completed]
  • Clean, repair, and repaint floors [Completed]
  • Repair and replace broken windows [Completed]
  • Clean and repaint the exterior of the building [In progress]
  • Replace stove and refrigerator appliances [completed]
  • Repair restrooms, toilets, and sinks [In Progress]
  • Splash Pad Repairs& backflow device testing [Completed]
  • Pavilion painted and renovated [Completed]
  • Community Citizen Group Adopt-a-Park Agreements [Pending]
  • Concrete Walkways and ADA access points [Completed]
  • Remove dead and hazardous trees- Shade Tree Commission approved [Completed]
  • Basketball courts resurfaced and stripped [Completed]

10. King Street

  • NEW Playground equipment installed [Completed]
  • Add a swingset to the play area [Completed]
  • Replace pavilion building [Pending]
  • NEW Versa Basketball court, full size [Completed]
  • NEW Concrete Walkways and ADA access points [Completed]
  • Add new park benches by coourt and playarea [In Progress]
  • Remove old playground equipment to prepare for new equipment [Completed]
  • Remove old shelter house structure and concrete pad for new installation [Pending]

11. Liberty Park

  • Park Road Culvert Replacement [Completed]
  • Remove metal culvert pipe & install a new wooden ADA pedestrian bridge across the stream, donated by Mansfield Baptist Church [Completed]
  • Replant stream edges with native plantings by ReWild Liberty [Completed]
  • Install a bench around the large maple tree by ReWild Liberty [In Progress]
  • Remove hazardous and dead trees- Shade Tree Commission approved- [In Progress]
  • Replace plants and new trees in spring as Arbor Day Activity- Shade Tree Commission approved [In Progress]
  • Resurfacing park roadways [Completed]
  • ADA painting parking access lot [Completed]
  • Resurfacing of two (2) small parking lots- [Completed]
  • Paint roadway bridge railing [Completed]
  • Renovation of Flagpole & Frank Fisch Memorial funded by local VFW Posts 3494 & 9943 [Completed]
  • Resurface and renovate the basketball court funded by Coca-Cola Consolidated & Body Armor [Completed]
  • Renovate the Baseball drainage and grading,& install benches at the field [Completed] First Game on April 14th, 2025
  • Install Pet Waste station & signage [Completed]
  • Replace informational & traffic signage [In progress]
  • Install metal benches [Completed]
  • ADA Access sidewalk replacement [Completed]
  • ADA Restroom renovation with/ toilet & sink replacement, bottle filler fountain [Completed]
  • Metal picnic tables & remove or repair wooden picnic tables donated by Richland County Health [Completed]
  • DIY Skatepark improvements by Skate Ohio Group [In progress] 3-year funding secured by city for $10,000 for 2025, 2026, & 2027
  • Baseball Field, parking lot & water improvements [Completed]
  • Gravel under playground impact zone [Completed]
  • Install new electrical outlets, 50 amp and 110v 20 amp service for food truck court [Completed]
  • Bathhouse sandstone cleanup & historical restoration [Completed]
  • Stand stone bridge repairs and cleaning of sandstone [Completed]
  • Clean out bathhouse building and outdoor areas, trim grass along fence lines [In Progress]
  • Bathhouse concrete replacement & improvement [Completed]
  • Bathhouse design plans for open-air pavilion and public restrooms. Funding provided by Richland County ($206,000) & Milliron Foundations ($200,000 [In Progress] Bids opening Janury 14th,2026
  • Repairs to benches & picnic tables [In progress]
  • Ohio Edison electrical pole removal /upgrade electric [Completed]
  • Install Security cameras and audio alerts [Completed]
  • Public Pool & Aquatic Park Design Plans for Replacement & Improvements, location to be determined [In Progress]
  • New Restroom Occupancy door locks installed [Completed]
  • Install new city branding park entrance sign [Completed]
  • Brightspeed Free public WiFi hotspot [Completed]
  • Repair and paint exercise stations – Veterans & Volunteer Groups ” Day of Service” May 3rd, 2025 [Completed]
  • Trash & Recycling Receptacles- [Completed]
  • Lake sediment removal and improvements- [In progress] Planned completion in spring 2026

12. Maple Lake Park

  • Install NEW Playground Equipment [Completed]
  • Install Pet Waste station & signage [Completed]
  • Painting of Outdoor Pavilion [Completed]
  • New picnic tables at the pavilion [Completed]
  • Install new large family-size charcoal grill at pavilion [Completed]
  • Install Mini Free Library box [Completed]
  • Parkview Connector trail entrance repair fencing at baseball field [Completed]
  • Parkview Connector trail entrances connecting North Lake to Maple Lake Parks [Completed]
  • Construction of new outdoor pavilion –[Completed]

13. Middle Park

  • Install Large stone Riprap along stream erosion banks [Completed]
  • Remove old sewer pipes [Completed]
  • Remove hazardous footbridge [Completed]
  • Establish natural habitat areas in and around the stream & a low-development plan [Pending]
  • Install traffic control bollards and protected crosswalks at road access points [ Completed]
  • Develop a plan for pedestrian & bike use trails on the roadway [Completed]
  • Parkview Connector trail entrances connecting North Lake to Maple Lake Parks [Completed]
  • Pedestrian/Bike bridge over stream [Completed]
  • Plan, develop, and construct an 18-hole Disc Golf Course- Sponsored by the Ohio Realtors Association & Brightspeed Fiber Internet [In Progress] Planned opening Spring/Summer 2026
  • Repair and renovate outdoor pavilion [In Progress]
  • Install new large family-size charcoal grill at pavilion [In Progress]
  • Construction of bridge- paved roadway over creek for connecting Parkview Bike/Hike trail- [Completed]
  • Construction of box culvert and pedestrian bridge to pavilion area- [Completed]

14. North Lake Park

  • Paint inside & outside of the Pavilion [Completed]
  • Gutter and outdoor building repairs [Completed]
  • Public outside restrooms repaired, hand dryers, lighting & painted [Completed]
  • Repair/Replace two aerator fountains in the lake [Completed]
  • Install a new instant water heater at the pavilion [Completed]
  • Road Bridge Replacement [Completed ]
  • Restripe parking lots [Completed]
  • Restripe Basketball court [Completed]
  • Install Dog waste station & signage [Completed]
  • Install Bike racks [Completed]
  • Install Bike Fix-It Station near B&O Bike Trail bridge [Completed]
  • Install new directional and traffic signage [Completed]
  • Repairs to benches & picnic tables [Completed]
  • Install Backflow water device & testing pit at Splash pad [Completed]
  • Splash Pad maintenance & backflow device testing [Completed]
  • Planters planted with native perennials and weed the garden area [Completed]
  • Install Security cameras and audio alerts [Completed]
  • Inside restroom renovations and upgrades [Completed]
  • Parkview Connector trail entrances connecting North Lake to Maple Lake Parks [Completed]
  • Reestablish park office space in the pavilion [Completed]
  • Install new branding bikeway and park signage [Completed]
  • Install new city branding park entrance sign [Completed]
  • Install traffic control bollards and protected crosswalks at road access points [Completed]
  • Brightspeed Free public WiFi hotspot [Completed]
  • Repair and install new metal roofing on four (4) pavilions [Completed]
  • Repair and repaint four (4) pavilions [Completed]
  • Install new large family-size charcoal grill at pavilion [Completed]
  • Trash & Recycling Receptacles- [Completed]
  • Install wall-mounted bulletin board at the Annex Park Office with Park Trail Map and event posters [Completed]
  • Redesign and update B & O and Mansfield Trail Brochure for 2025-[Completed] Brochure available at park office

15. Optimist Park

  • Adopt a Park agreement with Mansfield Noon Optimist Club [Completed]
  • Clean and paint playground equipment [Completed]
  • Repairs and replacement of swings [In Progress]
  • Add gravel to playground fall zones [Completed]

16. Prospect Park

  • Install NEW playground equipment [Completed]
  • Install Pet Waste station & signage [Completed]
  • NEW outdoor Pavilion with lighting and electrical -Donation by Mansfield Rotary Club & Alumni Roofing [In Progress ]
  • Install new large family-size ADA charcoal grill at new pavilion [In Progress]
  • Renovations and Paving of basketball court [In progress] Planned completion in spring/summer 2026
  • Renovation and paving of the parking lot [Completed]

17. Redwood Park

18. Ritters Run Park

19. South Park

  • Install Pet Waste station & signage [Completed]
  • Clean & restore sandstone arches [Completed]
  • Repave park roadways [Completed]
  • Paint and repair outdoor pavilion [In Progress]
  • Paint & repair the railing at the office [Completed]
  • Install new directional & traffic signage [In Progress]
  • Restore & repair Johnny Appleseed’s & Blockhouse’s historical markers [Completed]
  • Mulch Sandstone Arch and Street Islands [Completed]
  • Install Storybook Trail lower park area with signage in partnership with Mansfield/Richland County Public Library [Completed]
  • Install AI Security cameras and audio alerts [In Progress]
  • Cleaning & Restoring Sandstone Monoliths off the PAW entranceway [Completed]
  • Parkview Connector bike trail entrances connecting North Lake to Maple Lake Parks [Completed]
  • Install new city branding park entrance sign [Completed]
  • Install traffic control bollards and protected crosswalks at road access points [Completed]
  • Install wall-mounted bulletin board at pavilion with Park and trail Map and event posters [Completed]
  • Install new large family-size charcoal grill at pavilion [Completed]
  • Brightspeed Free public WiFi hotspot [Completed]
  • Renovation & Planting of an Educational Homestead Garden for America 250 celebration- by R.E.A.C.H. volunteers [In Progress] Planned completion summer 2026
  • Trash & Recycling Receptacles- [Completed]
  • Playground improvements and impact zone material replaced- [Completed]
  • Renovations with new partitions, hand dryers, lighting, and painting of restrooms- [Completed]

20. Sterkel Park

  • “Park for All” Community Park Celebration NOW OPEN Come and enjoy
  • Build Pickleball courts [Completed]
  • Install Pet Waste station & signage [Completed]
  • Build new restrooms [Completed]
  • Build new outdoor pavilion [Completed]
  • Install new large family-size charcoal grill at pavilion [Completed]
  • Build a new outdoor fitness gym area [Completed]
  • Install new playground playscape [Completed]
  • Resurface road & parking areas [Completed]
  • Traffic and directional signage [Completed]
  • Security Gate renovation and new signage [In Progress]
  • Removal of old playground [Completed]
  • Expanded paved parking lot [Completed]
  • Removal of old pavilion [Completed]
  • Trim trees in old pavilion location- [Completed]
  • Install AI Security cameras and audio alerts [Completed]
  • Install new city branding park entrance sign [Completed]
  • Brightspeed Free public WiFi hotspot [Completed]
  • Install a Public Level 2 -EV Dual Charging Station with designated parking spaces [Completed]
  • Install a Dog Park with Large and Small dog areas with signage, water fountain with dog fountain, and amenities [In Progress] Amenities donations by Rotary Club of Mansfield
  • Plant native shade trees around the Dog Park area- Shade Tree Commission [In Progress]
  • Install StoryWalk Trail with signage- sponsored by Mansfield Richland County Public Library [Completed]
  • Install mini library box sponsored by Richland Correctional Institution [Completed]
  • Install bike rack near parking lot [Completed]
  • Install two (2) charcoal grills and picnic tables in green space areas. [In Progress]