Findlay Residents Push for Injunction Against Park, Inquire If Council Would Eat Food From Toxic Soil.

BY TOR Contributor  

FINDLAY - Concerns about the cost and safety of the Findlay Downtown Recreation area continued at the Findlay city council meeting on Tuesday, June 17. While concerns are still looming from residents over the cost, environmental condition and general need, more residents are speaking out about potential health risks posed by what lies beneath the topsoil. 

Concerns have been raised regarding toxic levels of Hexavalent Chromium, also known as chromium-6 or Cr(VI), a toxic form of the element chromium that can cause various health problems, including cancer, when inhaled, which has been discovered through soil and ground water samples, creating concerns over what a large construction project could do by kicking up these chemicals in the process.

Citizens have repeated concerns to council and the mayor, yet those concerns have translated to very little action. Findlay City Council has said very little during public meetings about the concerns brought by citizens. In light of this, citizens have taken up a crusade independently.

Sixth Ward resident Haydee Sadler has been out in various locations, giving residents an opportunity to sign a petition aimed to stop all plans for the park until residents vote on the expenses, something some members of council state the Mayor has not even allowed them to do. Those elements include both construction of the park and assurance that the soil is safe for those who use the park.

“Perhaps we should grow a garden in that area and prepare a farm to table meal for the Mayor and council members to see if they would feel safe eating it,” Sadler said.

The petition follows additional legal action, taken up by organized citizens as well. A Cease and Desist order from Mathias Leguire, a member of the group Findlay Citizens for a Safe City and a law opinion from City Law Director, Rob Feighner, were read into the record at the meeting. The order from Leguire, demands the city to stop all financing toward the park until a citizen initiative, created by Findlay Citizens for a Safe City, completes their effort to put the park area to a vote of the residents. 

It is the opinion of Law Director Feighner that work can continue because the initiative has not yet passed. Feighner informed city council that a lawsuit was filed by Leguire asking the court for an injunction against the park project because it was impeding the intention of the citizen petition drive. Judge Johnathan Starn has been assigned to the ongoing case. On Wednesday, June 18, Judge Starn ruled that the injunction was invalid since a group, not a person, filed the suit. The paperwork was immediately amended, designating Mathias Leguire as the plaintiff. No ruling has been given in the amended motion. 

During the meeting, Mayor Christina Muryn submitted legislation asking for $2.5 million, the balance to complete the design of the Downtown Entertainment District. In addition, Muryn is requesting that City Council approve an additional $1.5 million for the design of a walking bridge that will lead to a dog park. The estimated cost of the bridge is climbing to nearly $8 million.

Councilwoman Holly Frische pushed back against Muryn, expressing concerns that the Council had never voted on these plans and they had not been brought up in any relevant meetings.

“I believe the majority of the community wants to improve that area,” Frische said. “I want to improve that area. It’s concerning to me that council representatives have not weighed in with a vote anywhere.” 

Additional concerns were raised that Findlay City council has not been presented with options for a leaner plan. Mayor Muryn addressed some concerns, stating she believed appropriate discussion had been made. 

“Discussion should take place with all of the council, not in the appropriations committee,” Muryn said.

Outside of Frische’s opposition, Findlay City Council has said very little during public meetings about the concerns brought by citizens. Additional residents voiced opposition to the growing costs of the project, including future Councilman, Danny Delong, who shared his dialogues with residents while campaigning for his 2026 city council seat. Delong said of seventh ward residents, “the main concern was the expense of the downtown park.”

Third ward resident Patricia Klein, asked that the legislative items 2025-76 and 2025-77 be sent to the appropriations committee. Klein said, “while there, I hope those ordinances will die and a reasonable plan for the benching area is agreed upon.” 

Resident Katie Erickson spoke to council about the number of parks available to residents of Hancock County. Erickson presented a list of the 50 named parks within Hancock County. According to Erickson, the National Recreation Parks Association states that an appropriate ratio is 1 park for every 2287 residents. 

“Doing the math, according to their ratio, Hancock County should have 32.8 parks,” Erickson said.

Erickson wonders if Findlay needs another park at this expense. The estimate for completing the downtown park nears $40 million.