Needle Hall at Bowling Green City Park is now available for rentals.
The 100-year-old structure is a remnant of the old Wood County Fairgrounds and has been used for little
more than storage space for several years.
Director of Parks and Recreation Dr. Michelle Grigore said Tuesday night the building has been renovated
and can be rented for $50 a day. She said the fee is a little higher than other shelters at City Park
because it is enclosed and offers more protection from the weather.
The Wood County Fair was held on the site until the fair went bankrupt in the late 1920s.
Grigore made the announcement during the June Board of Parks and Recreation Board meeting attended by
just two of nine members, Hobart Johnson and Matt Partin. The board will hold its July 28 meeting at
Needle Hall.
Although the board could take no action for lack of a quorum, it did work through the planned agenda as
an information session.
It was reported that more than 900 people attended the first two Sunday night concerts at City Park and
that some additional sessions of children’s programs have been added because of higher than expected
participation.
At its July meeting the board will be asked:
¥ To approve a $37 per team increase for volleyball and basketball leagues. Grigore said the fee will
help cover the cost of having a minimum wage employee at the front desk to monitor security at the
Community Center from the time it closes at 8 p.m. until the leagues are completed by 10 p.m. She said
the original plan had been an $80 increase but staff suggested a minimum wage person as a way to hold
down costs.
¥ To consider a $25 charge for non-county groups requesting a nature or ecology program. The non-county
fee is because those individuals do not pay local taxes.