Euclid City Council has approved a resolution that would potentially accept a matching state grant to upgrade the current bathroom facilities at the lakeside Kenneth J Sims Park, 23131 Lakeshore Blvd. According to the resolution, the grant would be from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for up to $500,000 and would require a 50 percent non-federal match for any funds used. “The current facility is outdated due to its age and is no longer suitable for the high volume of park visitors, especially families and children and it is difficult to maintain due to its outdated design and materials which increases time and labor for city park staff,” the resolution states. “The facility’s size, outdated fixtures, and lack of accessibility features create a frustrating and uncomfortable experience for many users, including individuals with disabilities, seniors with mobility challenges, and families with small children.” Planning and Development Director Patrick Grogan-Myers told council at a recent meeting the matching funds that would be needed to leverage the federal ODNR would include funding from Euclid’s existing HarborTown TIF district. He said that while the grant would allow up to $500,000 in matched funding, that the city was going to work with an engineer to get a final estimate on what it could cost to fully upgrade the facilities. “With the trail being completed (at Sims Park) we also recognized that over time the ongoing maintenance costs have increased for (the existing facilities) and it’s more cost to maintain,” Grogan-Myers said. “The garage is very undersized for a park of this size, so this is an opportunity to get state funds…” Funding could also be used for upgrades that include “sustainable and energy efficient features to offset operational costs. according to the resolution, and that the current storage area at the park is too small to “accommodate equipment necessary for park maintenance and does not provide areas for staff rest breaks which affects their operations at the park.”