Zipline in Stow? Ambitious parks plan moves forward

Thrill seekers could soon be zipping through the treetops at Stow’s Adell Durbin Park as part of big plans for city parks.

Those plans are moving forward at a good pace, according to Mayor John Pribonic, and include a zipline to be installed in the park. The zipline was one of a raft of plans that members of Stow’s city council discussed at its Aug. 11 meeting as part of the parks master plan for the next decade.

Details like the length and height of the zipline have not been finalized but should be in place by the start of next year, Pribonic said.

“We are ready to move forward. We are really trying to expand our parks in the city,” Pribonic said. “The council seemed very interested in the plan and moving forward. A big part of this is maintaining our parks at the same time as we are adding new stuff. We want to use all our parks to the fullest potential and we want every park to be some type of destination.”

Council members are backing the zipline and park transformations.

“It is a road map for us as we work with the administration,” Chair Mario Fiocca said. “The next meeting on Sept. 8 will be the third reading, and we look forward to a lot of good things improving the community.”

The zipline proposals are designed to attract people to Stow.

“At Adell Durbin, we are looking to contract out and put some ziplines in over the park by a specialist company, most likely operating over the weekends so people can enjoy the woodlands, a hike and the views,” Pribonic said.

Northport and Sherwood Acres parks are receiving upgrades as part of the plan, with ribbon cuttings for both set for Saturday, Aug. 27.

“There has been a total redo of equipment and new bases laid,” Pribonic said, “and new equipment has also been added at Adell Durbin.

“Fox Den Golf Course falls under Parks and Rec, and we have spent a substantial amount of money there. The land was paid for from our general fund and the improvements are costing about $200,000 from the department budget. People seem happy with the conditions of the greens, and we have put in a patio. Even if someone doesn’t want to golf, they can go there and enjoy great food.”

And more is coming soon, said the mayor.

“The other big thing we have coming up is the Stow Kids Playground, often called SKiP, at the city center complex off Darrow Road, which is moving forward,” he said.

The sidewalks and parking started going in last week.

“Then we are just waiting for the equipment to be installed, which should take about two weeks,” Pribonic said. “We have been told SKiP will be in the top five in Ohio and is going to be a destination park to bring people into Stow.”

Pribonic updated council members on developments at the Hanson property on Call Road adjacent to Fox Den. The city bought the property from the Hanson family for $2.5 million 18 months ago.

“That is where the driving range is, and we never owned it,” he said. “This will allow us to expand the driving range and put in some heated stalls.”

Other plans for the Hanson property could include more volleyball courts, an ice-skating rink and a beer garden, and a disc golf course at Silver Springs Park, where both the lodge and barn have been repainted and equipped with new lighting.

But Pribonic said the final mix of pursuits will depend on what the new owners of the former Sto-Kent Family Entertainment bowling alley do with that property on Fishcreek Road.

“We know it won’t be bowling but will have several things there, and we don’t want to be in competition with a private business,” he said.

The property purchase from the Hanson family means Stow can also expand its civic cemetery.

“There is an existing family cemetery of about 12 graves and dates from the late 1800s,” Pribonic said. “We are looking to expand our cemeteries by about six acres as we are down to about 20 graveside plots, which will probably only last until the end of the year, but people are telling us they still want to be buried in Stow.

“It will be a nice addition, secluded from all the activities elsewhere. The recreational activities will not intrude.”

There are three civic cemeteries in Stow –— Maple Lawn, Silver Springs and Stow — but all are near capacity. The cemetery on the Hanson property would be a new site.

Pribonic said the future of recreational developments in Stow is in residents’ hands, as the city seeks to shape its parks for the next decade.

“The big thing out there now is the survey asking the public if they have an interest in a community rec center,” he said. “We currently have more than 1,200 responses, which is very good, but we want to keep it out there for at least another week to see what people really want in a rec center.

“During the master plan phase a rec center ranked very highly, which is why we are exploring it. If we do put one in it will incorporate a senior center, as the house we have on Route 91 can only serve about 46 people and Stow has a population of 35,000. So we are under-serving our senior population of over-55s.”