NEWTON FALLS - Residents have provided city officials with ideas and suggestions for what they would like to see in the city's 10 parks for the next 20 years.
A park visioning meeting was held this week at the community center where residents could provide input on the future of the local parks.
City Manager Jack Haney said each of the parks was discussed so the 25 residents in attendance could provide input and ideas. The meeting included representatives of youth athletic associations, veterans, and clubs.
''We were pleasantly surprised at the number of people who attended. We were able to catch different perspectives,'' he said.
The city's parks include Community Center Park, Veterans Park, Four Corners Park, Rotary Park and parks on Elizabeth, Sixth, Apache, Newton, Freedom and Swiss streets.
''We wanted to know what residents would like to see at the park 20 years from now for the children and adults,'' Haney said.
He said there were a variety of interesting comments including public art, exercise equipment, moving the apparatus and equipment around, connecting the parks to the bike trail, making walking paths, having gardens that residents could take care of, and more plantings, such as trees, to beautify the parks.
Haney said the information and comments will be compiled and reviewed with additional meetings to be held with more discussions.
He said while some of the parks are large and used by many sporting and community groups, others are small neighborhood parks with benches and swings.
Haney said the parks' equipment and facilities will be reviewed. The safety in the parks is another area that was addressed by the public.
He said the July 4 festival which is one of the largest events for the community has been held for many years at the Community Center Park. The Veterans Park is used for Memorial Day and other holiday events.
Haney said Four Corners Park is used by many people because of its location.
Plans would be to have other events at the parks.
''We want there to be activities for people of all ages at the parks,'' he said.