“Real People” Spotlight: Kristan Turner, Event Coordinator

For this month’s “Real People” spotlight, we’re featuring Kristan Turner, Event Coordinator for the City of Hilliard Recreation and Parks Department.

Planning events like “Freedom Fest” and “Fall Festival” is a year-round job and Kristan works behind-the-scenes to make everything run smoothly. She was also instrumental in starting new events like Celebration at the Station and the DORA at Hilliard’s Station Park.

Kristan is a lifelong Hilliard resident and has proudly served her hometown community since her teenage years. In fact, she’s never worked anywhere else! Thank you for all you do for Hilliard, Kristan!

Work Underway on Recreation and Wellness Campus Site

March 29, 2023

Next on the Road to Recreation: the start of construction! Builders have begun clearing the land along Scioto Darby Road that will house the future Recreation and Wellness Center.

McCarthy Consulting, LLC is the construction lead on the project that will include a new 105,000-square-foot community center and more athletic fields.

“We aren’t moving dirt just yet, but we are on site and activities are occurring in preparation for the actual start of construction,” said President of McCarthy Consulting, LLC Don McCarthy.

Those visiting Municipal Park or driving along Scioto Darby Road may notice large machinery, tree removal, and new project fencing at the site.

Hilliard drivers should not experience traffic disruptions during this phase of the building process.

The entire community is encouraged to attend the April 14 groundbreaking and touch-a-truck event to learn more about the project, see the site of the future Recreation and Wellness Center, and explore the construction equipment building it.

The Recreation and Wellness Center is expected to be completed in 2025.

City Highlights Accomplishments, Looks “Full Steam Ahead” in State of the City Presentation

March 24, 2023

The State of the City is strong. That was the lasting message Tuesday from Hilliard’s 2023 State of the City presentation at Center Street Market in Downtown Hilliard.

A crowd of more than 150 people attended the event with the train theme of “All Aboard and Full Steam Ahead”, harkening back to Hilliard’s railroad roots.

City Manager Michelle Crandall covered highlights from the past year and shared details about Hilliard’s exciting future plans.

The presentation included updates on the new Recreation and Wellness Campus, the Hilliard By Design community plan, the Hilliard City Lab tech initiative, and much more.

Videos from the presentation can be viewed on the City’s Youtube page: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkXmbPhtCrMGOh1tEsGdmxCvXVB2RO0EM

Thank you to all who attended this year’s event to make it such a big success!

Parks and Recreation Accepts 3 Awards at OPRA Conference

February 2, 2023

Hilliard Recreation and Parks Department accepted three Awards of Excellence from the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association (OPRA) at its annual conference on Wednesday.

The awards included the Youth Outstanding Leadership Award and two second-place awards in multiple competitive categories.

The Youth Outstanding Leadership Award recognizes Christopher Kobs, a senior at Hilliard Darby High School who has served the community in many ways, establishing a pattern of service that has left an indelible mark on the community. Beginning in 2018 as a volunteer camp counselor, he also volunteered and worked as a soccer referee, baseball umpire, and as a student coach for hockey players as young as four. In 2020, he applied for and was appointed as the sole high school student in Hilliard to be a member of the Hilliard Recreation and Parks Advisory Committee (RPAC). The RPAC formed in 2021 to help support Issue 22, a ballot initiative for an income increase to fund the construction of a new community center. Christopher was a huge supporter of Issue 22 and helped inform his peers about its benefits through videos and word of mouth. Christopher has accomplished all of this while maintaining a 4.36 grade point average and while planning for a career in public service and civic law.

Next, Hilliard Recreation and Parks Department won second place in the Marketing Innovations category for the “Path to Possibilities” campaign. This marketing campaign strategically educated the pubic on Issue 22, the income tax ballot initiative approved by residents in 2021.
Hilliard Recreation and Parks Department also took home a second place OPRA award in the Historical and Cultural Arts Programs and Events category for the “I have a Heart for Service” event, which honored Martin Luther King Jr. This new event, created by Parks and Recreation staff, emphasized equality and diversity while connecting King’s heart for service and the City’s core values.

In all, 12 Ohio agencies won first place awards and 24 agencies were honored. A panel of parks and recreation professionals from across Ohio judged submissions for the awards.

“These people are setting the bar in terms of improving the quality of life around the state,” said OPRA Executive Director Woody Woodward. “They are the shining stars of parks and recreation in Ohio.”