Soon we will see this beautiful gazebo erected on a small portion of the old Mineral Ridge School property. The original plan hoped to utilize the entire property but a complete park plan is not possible until the Board of Education transfers the remainder of the land to the Township. The entrance to the park will be on Stewart Street.
At the March meeting, the Board said they could not legally transfer all the land to the Township because the State of Ohio required all contracts concerning the old school be finished. Why the small peninsula of land could be transferred and not the whole property remains a mystery.
The Township Trustees and Friends of the Park have been unsuccessful in efforts to acquire the remainder of the property without agreeing to unreasonable conditions required by Superintendent Dohar and the Board.
Conditions would have included: permission and approval of the Superintendent and Board to install anything on their property such as benches, playground equipment, etc. Any planting would have to be approved, mowing schedules coordinated between the school and the township and creation of a joint board of directors and a master plan for the park. This is NOT Mill Creek Park, but a tiny community park which will not require any tax levies. The function of Township Trustees is to deal with ORC mandates which include township parks. School Board business is that of education, not co-managing community parks.
Tax deductible donations have been coming in for the park and the generosity of contractors and suppliers is wonderful. When the gazebo is complete, a list of contractor donations will be on this blog.
The Board of Education has missed a real opportunity to return to the taxpayers of Weathersfield a piece of property that belonged to them in the first place and held many memories for generations. No plan can be made for the park amenities until the township has ownership. The Board of Education can still transfer the property- but will they?
In the meantime, tax deductible contributions toward the gazebo are welcome and appreciated.
Donations can be made to :
Donations can be made to :
Weathersfield Township Community Park
1451 Prospect Street
Mineral Ridge OH 44440
