In my 40 years of dealing with city hall, I have never seen so many elected officials and bureaucrats sell out the good of the public for personal gain and political survival. This $25 million taxpayer rip-off, theft of public parkland, bootlicking, underhanded dealings and propaganda filled circus is the kind of mindless debacle that puts Columbus on the map as one of the most corrupt and unethical cities in the U.S.
This unscrupulous behind the scenes criminal act ranks right up there with Redflex, the Ohio Health 315 West North Broadway ramp, The Little Turtle Roadway Project, and Ginther’s illegal ex parte phone call to Judge Mingo.
In June of 2023 and June of 2024 legislation was passed by City Council and signed off by Mayor Ginther to allocate $1.6 million for architectural and engineering services for the development of McCoy and Gender Road Parks. Council members Bankston, Doran’s, and Hardin served on the Recs and Parks committee in 2023. Councilman Wyche served as vice chair in 2024.
The legislation read in part: “the parks will provide new amenities such as therapeutic recreation space capable of accommodating multiple outdoor sports opportunities, athletic fields, pickleball courts, a splash pad, and family park amenities. The Columbus Recreation and Parks Department is looking to add more inclusive opportunities for therapeutic recreation at McCoy Park, which is much needed. “
The bottom line is, Ginther, Director Stevens, Recs and Parks and others sitting in front of me knew about the plans to redevelop McCoy Park. But rather than tell the NWSL ownership team that McCoy Park was unavailable, you all deliberately turned your backs on the Southwest Area Commission, the residents of the Franklinton neighborhood, and city of Columbus as a whole. Why? Because this was about answering to the demands of the Haslams, Nationwide, the Edwards, Michael Coleman, Ginther, The Columbus Partnership and other influential powerful people who control votes and city policy for their own selfish monetary gains. This is the second time the Haslams have attempted to steal a city of Columbus public park. 10 years ago, they wanted to seize Tuttle Park as their new training facility for their Cleveland Browns football team.
McCoy Park or any public parkland should never be used as a negotiation tool for professional sport team owners or any kind of fake public-private fleecing of parkland. Parks should not be given away to the highest bidder. If approved, this proposal will set a precedence for further park land grabs by other rich and powerful city hall power brokers.
In closing, this ordinance should be voted down. It’s reprehensible that anyone would support this intentional criminal theft of McCoy Park. The Haslams and their business partners need to withdraw their current proposal to the NWSL and pay for their own training facility and purchase privately owned property. They and many of you act like today is doomsday for Columbus if this dishonest proposal isn’t passed. NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman has stated that “she foresees a day with 14 additional teams in the league and she is “bullish on the leagues ability to expand further.” So there is plenty of time re-apply for a franchise.
You can sprinkle all the fairy dust on this deal all you want. But it doesn’t change a thing. Your vote this evening will speak volumes about whether you prioritize the needs of our neighborhoods or the rich and powerful and it will define and follow your political and professional careers forever.
*And I have no doubt that the 40-50 senior citizen residents who occupy 18 units of the mobile home park that sits next to McCoy Park will eventually be displaced in another backroom deal by city officials and the NWSL Haslam Sports Group.