Recreation Board discusses comprehensive strategic plan at August meeting

Oxford’s Recreation Board met on Aug. 11 to share updates to its capital budget for 2026, including a potential new comprehensive strategic plan for the park system that would involve collaborations with the TRI Board and Miami University. 

A new Oxford Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) comprehensive strategic plan would replace the latest one from 1997. Chad Smith, the director of OPRD, said it’s time to create a new plan to shape the department’s long-term goals. 

“I think that initiative has a lot going for it,” Smith said. “We have to get over the finish line, but I think it would set us up for success for years to come to have a roadmap … I think you’ll get some payoff and investment.”

Smith said the initial quoting for the comprehensive plan totaled more than $100,000. He said the Recreation Board should look for other funding sources, one of which being the TRI Board. At the previous Recreation Board meeting, they discussed gathering with the TRI Board more frequently throughout the year to discuss collaborative projects. 

Adam Beissel, an associate professor at Miami, brought up the university’s plans for a new recreation space on campus to replace the current one on Cook Field, where a new basketball arena is slated to be built. 

“While we’re talking about the comp plan, I do think it behooves us … to reach out to Miami as a whole,” Beissel said. “If they’re building a $13 million recreation space for students to replace Cook Field, I think that is going to have to be a part of the DNA of the city when it comes to hosting tournaments, and it opens up things for more partnerships.”

Beissel also said he thinks the future of the Parks and Recreation department can be thought of as a three-legged stool between the city, the TRI and Miami. Having that collaboration could allow Oxford to host large sports events and tournaments, using fields and facilities from both the city and the university. 

Alex French, a city councilor and member of the Recreation Board, elaborated on Beissel’s point and mentioned that Oxford’s economic development strategic plan calls for cooperation between the city and Miami for projects like this. 

Smith said cooperating with the university and sharing facilities can make Oxford more marketable to host large sports events and camps. The board agreed this can be attractive for increasingly popular sports like lacrosse and field hockey, and it can be an opportunity for Miami’s varsity teams to advertise themselves to future recruits. 

“If I was the Miami field hockey coach, I would want those tournaments coming here,” said Sarah Meany, a member of the board, “because it’s a sneak peek to what Miami and Oxford [are], and then students start seeing themselves here. It could be a recruitment tool for the university on bigger levels.”

The board proceeded to discuss projected 2025 improvements, starting with repairs at the Aquatic Center. After the pool closes on Labor Day, it will be drained and receive emergency repairs, and the slides will be resealed. 

Smith also announced the hiring of Stephanie Martin as the new preschool administrator at the OPRD’s Learning Blocks Preschool. Martin started on Aug. 11 after working at the OPRD’s summer camp, and she will interview for an assistant preschool teacher this week. Smith also said the board should look into expanding the preschool or searching for partnership opportunities going forward. 

“Right now, it’s kind of limited in space in what it does, but it’s a huge asset for the community,” Smith said. “Childcare is at a premium in Oxford. There’s not a whole lot of options, so we’re glad to be able to provide that. I think Stephanie will do a great job.”

Through a partnership with Miami, the city will install two Little Free Libraries thanks to a grant. Smith said the original plan was to put them on the new trail system, but decided against it and is looking instead at other locations. 

At the end of the meeting, the board discussed current challenges and ideas for public restrooms Uptown. Between cost and logistical challenges, this project has been delayed. The board shared ideas for this, such as integrating a restroom in one of the buildings around the Uptown Park, and discussed concerns about accessibility and cleanliness. 

Smith also mentioned that there was interest in a public restroom at the dog park. Initial estimates projected that it would cost around $400,000, but he brought up ideas, such as using green flush technology, that would reduce that cost to around $180,000. 

The board is starting to look at future events and programs, such as the Miami football home-opener on Sept. 20 and Halloween activities. Its next meeting will be on Sept. 8 at noon in the municipal building.