SALEM — The parks commission discussed multiple grants in its meeting Wednesday.

In the parks commission’s Dec. 17 meeting, Parks Director Kelli Pastore announced that the department would be receiving a donation of 25 batting helmets for its softball teams from Rollins Sports this month. On Wednesday she announced that the department had also received an additional grant from RipIt Sports for 25 more helmets.

Pastore also told the commissioners that the new fence installed at the Waterworth Memorial Park Nature Trail had been completed, and that all the necessary paperwork had been completed for the department to be reimbursed for the construction cost through it Serve Ohio Martin Luther King Junior Day of Service Grant. Twelve volunteers assisted with the project.

Pastore also provided the commissioners with an update on the renovation of the pavilions at Centennial Park. Pastore said that the paperwork for the department’s NatureWorks grant, which is covering the costs of the repairs, had been submitted to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and that the department had been given approval to begin construction. She said that a roll-off dumpster was slated to arrive on Monday, and that Detweiler Roofing was scheduled to begin work this week.

During her report Pastore told the commissioners that she was working on several more grant applications which must be submitted over the next few months, including the Ohio Department of Agriculture Spotted Lantern Fly Mitigation Grant due on Jan. 31, the Keep Ohio Beautiful Grant which opened for application on Sunday, the Global Youth Service Grant which is due on April 1, and the T-Mobile Hometown Grant which is due on March 31.

Pastore also said that the department’s staff had assisted the street department with snow removal following the sever winter storm which began on Jan. 24 and thanked them for their efforts.

Recreation Supervisor Rocco Crawford said that he had completed interviews for potential lifeguards for the upcoming Centennial Park Pool Season with Pool Manager Eva Rand and Head Lifeguard Aidan Radcliff. The commissioners voted unanimously to approve the hire of Centennial Park Pool staff for 2026 including both Rand and Radcliff, and lifeguards Ava Reed, Ellie Hazelbaker, Emma Klingensmith, Abby Barborak, Nolan Clark, Caden White, and Luke Bezilla.

The parks commission will meet next at 5 p.m. Feb. 25.