GIRARD — City officials will pursue $175,000 in grants for a proposed synthetic ice rink and curling area for David Tod Memorial Park.

“They are expensive, but we have talked about an ice rink at the park before. This is something we can’t afford to do on our own,” Mayor Mark Zuppo said, adding the skating area will be next to the park’s basketball court.

He said the ice rink will be used mostly in the winter but also other times of the year. Zuppo said funds also could be used for a curling site at $20,000.

“This will be a great opportunity for Girard and draw people to the city,” he said.

Also, police Chief John Freeman said he is seeking grants for a $24,488 body camera program, which would modernize the cameras inside police cruisers and the videos from the cameras with a more efficient process when requests are made for the videos. Freeman said a Homeland Security grant is being sought to upgrade police radios and an Ohio Violent Crime Reduction grant is being sought for domestic violence awareness and reduction programs.

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA

In other business, council heard from Niles resident Richard Lilly, who is with the Girard Veterans Council Honor Guard. He is working with Kathy Blackstone of Blackstone Funeral Home to raise funds to place wreaths on 1,500 graves of veterans at Girard City Cemetery.

He said donations are being sought to get enough wreaths for all veterans. Lilly said wreaths are $17 each.

He said in December, 700 wreaths were placed, with a goal of 1,500 for December 2026. The cost for 1,500 wreaths is $25,500.

Lilly said they wanted to get started early in fundraising.

He said the Girard Veterans Council also spends money for flags for the veterans’ graves on Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

In other business, council:

● Recognized the Girard High School cheerleaders, who were state championship winners at the OASSA State Cheerleading Competition at Big Walnut High School in Columbus this past weekend.

● Heard from Zuppo that the city is working with Girard schools and the United Way of Trumbull County to establish a Care Closet to provide essential items to students in need.

● Heard from Zuppo that he and Safety Service Director Mark Ragozine will travel March 10 and 11 to Columbus as part of the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber Drive In event.

● Approved establishing an account for any Federal Emergency Management Agency funds received by the city for the Girard Lakes dam improvement project as recommended by the state auditor.

● Heard from Councilman James Clark, D-2nd Ward, who attended a neighborhood block watch where residents complained about vehicles being parked on the sidewalks in parts of the city, including the area of State Street and Broadway Avenue.

● Announced a zoning meeting at 5 p.m. March 19 at Girard Free Library and finance committee at 6:30 p.m. March 23 in council chambers.