NEW Gahanna Summer Drive-In Series

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Enjoy some free summer fun by attending the NEW Gahanna Summer Drive-In Series! Presented by Gahanna Parks & Recreation, and sponsored by KEMBA and Tina Wedebrook/Remax, the summer long series offers drive-in movies and concerts on alternating Friday nights at Headley Park (1031 Challis Springs Dr.).  Concert nights run from 7-9 pm and movie nights 9-11 pm. Advance registration is required. (LINK)

CONCERTS (7 pm)

Friday, July 10: El Guapo (acoustic rock)

Friday, July 24: Pretty Filth (80’s cover band)

Friday, July 31: The Goldsberrys

Friday, August 14: “Stuck in the 70’s” with Flippo

Friday, August 28: Pop Gun

MOVIES (9 pm)

Friday, July 17: Ghostbusters (1984)

Friday, August 7: Onward (2020)

Friday, August 21: Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)

Questions? Call 614/342-4250

NEW Camp Crate Program Offers Boxed Adventures

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Gahanna Parks & Rec team has created a variety of fun new summer programs for kids, featuring Camp Crate –which includes delivery (or pick up) of a box of creative projects, materials and detailed instructions to encourage at-home learning and discovery! Check out the details below — and register online. (Spots are limited.)

Camp Crates

  • First week will be week of July 6
  • Registration will open June 10
  • $15 Residents/$18 Non-Residents
  • Delivery is included for residents.
  • Non-Residents can opt for either
    • free on-site pickup
    • $5 additional delivery fee

Go HERE to register NOW!

Gahanna Division of Police Annual Report: 2019

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“On behalf of the talented men and women of the Gahanna Division of Police, I am pleased to present our agency’s first ever annual report. This report is one of many efforts to provide openness and transparency to the residents of the community we so proudly serve. It is our intent to show the results of our work over the last year, highlight successes and provide the public with information to better understand the current condition of crime and safety in Gahanna. Building lasting and strong relationships within our diverse, ever changing city is the cornerstone to a safe, healthy and vibrant community for all.” ~Jeffrey Spence/ Chief of Police

Download the full report here.

Unidirectional Hydrant Flushing

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Gahanna has begun unidirectional waterline flushing in the central and Southeast quadrant of Gahanna. The work will continue through the summer, and will be completed in August.

Over time, solids may settle on the bottom of the water main pipes. This reduces the amount of water that can easily flow through the pipes.

Unidirectional flushing is a systematic and controlled procedure that uses water at a high velocity to remove sedimentation, improve water quality, and increase the flow efficiency within the waterlines of the distribution system. This preventative maintenance technique is endorsed and encouraged by the Ohio EPA.

This cleaning and maintenance process can potentially cause a temporary change in water color, odor or taste. This is due to sediment being stirred up in the pipes. Any changes in water quality should be flushed out after 5 – 10 minutes of running water inside your home. Please call 614-342-4440 if you have any questions or concerns.

Gypsy Moth Mating Disruption Treatments to Begin in Ohio

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GYPSY MOTH MATING DISRUPTION TREATMENTS TO BEGIN IN OHIO
Delaware, Franklin, Hardin, Hocking, Knox, Licking, Marion, Morrow, Muskingum, Perry, Union, Vinton and Washington counties to receive treatments

REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (June 18, 2020) – The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) will begin aerial treatments designed to disrupt gypsy moth mating on 64,049 acres across the state. Portions of Columbus, Delaware, Dublin, Gahanna, Granville, Marion, Minerva Park, Newark, Upper Arlington, and Westerville will be treated. Parts of Delaware, Franklin, Hardin, Hocking, Knox, Licking, Marion, Morrow, Muskingum, Perry, Union, Vinton, and Washington counties will also receive treatments.

To help protect Ohio’s diverse habitat, ODA operates multiple programs aimed at managing the gypsy moth in the state. One such program, the Slow-the-Spread program, focuses on monitoring, detecting, and reducing isolated populations to slow the gypsy moth’s movement through treatments.

Airplanes will fly approximately 100 feet above the treetops and buildings to apply the treatment throughout the day. Weather permitting, treatments will begin in southern and central Ohio in the coming days.

In all counties receiving treatment, ODA will use a single application of the product SPLAT GM-O. This product does not kill the moth, but it disrupts the mating process by confusing the male as it searches for a female mate. SPLAT GM-O is an organic product and is not harmful to birds, bees, plants, pets or humans.

Pre-recorded daily updates about planned treatment blocks are available by calling 614-387-0907 or 614-728-6400.

The gypsy moth is a non-native, invasive species that feeds on the leaves of more than 300 different trees and shrubs and is especially fond of oak. A healthy tree can usually withstand only two years of defoliation before it is permanently damaged or dies. To date, 51 of Ohio’s 88 counties have established gypsy moth populations.

For more information on the gypsy moth, including maps of treatment areas and videos of the mating disruption process, please visit https://agri.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/oda/divisions/plant-health/gypsy-moth-program/

 

NEW: Parks & Rec Program Scholarships

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NEW this year: the Gahanna Parks & Rec Department has announced that program scholarship opportunities are now available for all programming within the department. Applications are available for download HERE. Please complete and submit to: parksandrec@gahanna.gov

These scholarships are available thanks to the continued support of the Gahanna Parks & Recreation Foundation.

Read the press release about the Gahanna Parks & Recreation scholarships HERE.

 

2020 Police Strategic Goals Statement

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A Message From the City of Gahanna and the Gahanna Division of Police:

“During this time of widespread unrest, public health challenges not seen in decades, and nationwide public concern over the integrity, training, and competency of local law enforcement agencies in general, the City of Gahanna and the Gahanna Division of Police are proud of the community we serve. Over the last two weeks, we have witnessed and participated in several peaceful demonstrations, marches and gatherings with our residents, in an effort to display our support of justice, promotion of equal treatment of all people, and demand an end to racism. Although opinions and political points of view regarding recent events across our country vary greatly, one thing remains consistent – our community expects fairness, respect, professionalism and accountability within Gahanna and, specifically, from our law enforcement officers.”

Read the full statement HERE. {LINK}

Paddle Gahanna!

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The Gahanna Parks & Recreation team is excited to introduce kayaking rentals to the Creekside Park Marina and Friendship Park this summer! In addition, paddle boats will still be available at Creekside.  We’ve received permission from state and county health officials to open boating operations in Gahanna. Due to COVID-19, 2020 paddling programs have been modified this season, all reservations are will now be made through paddlegahanna.com.

Rentals are through reservation only, and will be for 30-minute time blocks. Each reservation is $10 per boat. Rentals must have an adult present (age 18+). Reservations are non-refundable. If weather or water conditions are unsafe, reservations will be either refunded or credited towards another day.

To make a reservation, go to paddlegahanna.com. For additional information email paddle@gahanna.gov or call 614/342-4250.

Creekside (kayaks and paddle boats)
M-Thur: 4-8 pm
Fri: 12-9 pm
Sat: 10 am-9 pm
Sun: 12-5 pm

Friendship Park (kayaks only)
Tue & Thur: 11 am-3pm

Gahanna Provides Flexible Summer Programming

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The  City  of  Gahanna  Parks  and  Recreation Department  has  announced  details  for their  updated Summer  Youth Programming.  In the  midst  of  the  coronavirus  public  health concern, new operational  mandates  for  day  camp programming  were  announced by  Governor  DeWine  last  month. Many  of  those mandates  significantly  impacted  the  ability  to  offer  typical day  camp  activities,  field  trips and group events.  

Parks and  Recreation  Director,  Stephania Bernard-Ferrell,  said  their  team  has been  working  hard  to provide  fun  learning  opportunities, despite  restrictive  mandates. “Our  team  shifted  their  focus and  have been creative  by  providing  virtual recreation  activities,  adapting  programming  to provide  safe  learning and exploration,  and  implementing  a  meal  program  for  our  senior  residents. We  are  always  looking  for ways to  stay  engaged  with  our  residents and  hope  that  through these  efforts,  our  community  members  will be  able  to enjoy  their  summer  just  as  they  normally  would.”

Sarah  Mill,  Recreation  Supervisor  with  Gahanna Parks  and Recreation Department,  said  their  team  has been  focused on  offering  interactive  programming, despite  many  physical  limitations. “Summer  may  look different  this  year,  but  our  Recreation  Team  has  been  hard  at  work  to ensure  that  fun memories  will  be made, and our  Parks  will  be  used  for  the  purpose  intended —  to get  outside,  and enjoy  nature  during  the warmest  months of  the year.”  

Stephania  Bernard-Ferrell  stated  the  programs  will begin  July 6.  Registration  will  be  open starting  June 10 for  portable “camp  crates,”  which offer  activities for  families  and  children  wanting  to experience  new programming  while  staying  at  home,  and  June  15 for  part-day  enrichment  experiences, and  virtual programming  options. 

  “You’ll  see  some  of  our  favorite  summer  activities  like  nature exploring,  games,  arts &  crafts,  and  much more,”  added Sarah Mill.    “We’re  working  to bring  interactive, online  courses  and  summer  camps  with STEM,  arts  education  &  sports  programming  to the  Gahanna  community.”     For  additional  details  and to  register  for programs,  please visit ExploreGahannaParks.com

2020 Story Trail is OPEN

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The 2020 Gahanna Story Trail is now open, inviting visitors to explore on their own the scenic path through the woods at Friendship Park (150 Oklahoma Ave.) while immersing themselves in an original story.

Presented by Gahanna Parks & Recreation, Columbus Metropolitan Library Gahanna Branch and Gahanna Jefferson Public Schools, the 2020 Story Trail tale features the story, “The World Around Her.”   The tale is illustrated on colorful panels that draw visitors into the woods toward the creek.

The Gahanna Story Trail began as a collaboration between the Gahanna Department of Parks & Recreation and the Gahanna Branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library in the spring of 2012, and was inspired by the Story Trail at Dawes Arboretum. It featured the popular picture book, “In the Tall, Tall Grass” by Denise Fleming. The story served as an interactive nature walk combining nature exploration and early literacy interaction.

In 2013, the project was expanded to begin highlighting more of the Gahanna community. The installations were a unique collaboration between Gahanna Parks & Recreation, the Gahanna Library and the Gahanna Schools.  In subsequent years, the stories, “The Acorn”, “Little Red Riding Robin”, “Following a Feathered Friend”, “Going on a Nature Walk”, “The Friendship Bridge”, “The Littlest Bee”  and “The Big Walnut Country Club” were all written and illustrated by students from the Gahanna Area.

This year’s story was written by: Allison Slates, Areej Khalid, Azhaar Yasin, Ruby Lobert, and  Zakia Mohamud. The artwork was created by: Rachel Deibel, a Gahanna Lincoln High School student.  The illustrations are accompanied by questions and challenges to encourage engagement by visitors as they wander down the scenic park trail.