Schoolhouse Park History
Park Master Plan Document – 2018
In May of 2018 the Village hired a consultant (R15-18) to develop a master plan for its park areas. This included updating shelters at Community Park, conceptual planning for basketball courts at the corner of Grant and Maple Streets, preparing a concept plan for a park and parking lot area in the location of the old Middle School, which would become Schoolhouse Park. The consultant provided updated plans and planning documents in August of 2018 for consideration by the Village. This plan was used to secure funding for the basketball courts under the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Land and Water Conservation Fund (R36-18). The Village hired a consultant (R3-19) in February 2019 to design and engineer the basketball courts.
Original Maple Street Park Plan – 2018 – 2020
The Schoolhouse Park Project, originally called Maple Street Park, took shape originally in 2019, as additional discussions about the old Middle School lot continued. Spearheaded by Mayor McCord, the development of this park became a priority for the Village.
In January of 2020 the Village hired a consultant (R1-20) to begin the design of a park space that would include specific amenities that the Village felt were needed. Public meetings were held in July, August, and September of 2020 to help define priorities for the park. Over twenty private meetings with businesses, residents, and non-profits were held to obtain input on the necessary elements of the park. There was substantial support for the creation of a central park area within the Village that had amenities to serve the Village residents.
The Village residents, businesses, and non-profits all donated to make the future park a reality. Over the course of almost a year of fundraising the park has donations or pledges amounting to over $300,000. These funds will be used to leverage the grant opportunities available to the Village. In November 2020 the Village applied for a very large NatureWorks Grant which used the park plan that was created through this process, but unfortunately the Village was not successful in receiving any grant funding.
The amenities that were specifically detailed by residents, businesses, and non-profits were as follows:
- Basketball Courts – These were already under construction, but were to be part of the future park space.
- Splash Pad
- Band Stand (Pavilion)
- Seating
- Walking Pathways
- Drinking Fountains
- Benches
- Concession Stand / Restrooms
- Lighting
- Picnic Tables
- Fencing
- Sidewalks
- Additional Parking Lot
Downloads
Updated Park Plan – 2021 and Beyond
At the end of 2020 the new Village Administrator was tasked with taking charge of the project to move it forward and to find additional grant funding opportunities. The Village Council in May of 2021 hired a consultant (R22-21) to update the park plan to incorporate additional opportunities that were not originally available to the Village — mainly the Rudy Property. The park plan at this time included the basketball courts on the northeast corner, old Middle School land on the southwest corner, and open green space on the southeast corner of Grant and Maple Streets. By adding the Rudy Property (which the Village purchased in July of 2021) the Village now controls all four corners of the intersection, allowing more opportunities to enhance the park area.
Update Process
The Village moved forward with a process to get input and feedback on potential plans for consideration. The Village scheduled two open houses and had two surveys available for completion. The process included taking the original plan noted above, and evolving it with a Draft Plan #1 and a Draft Plan #2 below. Those plans were modified to include comments, concerns, and feedback obtained throughout the updating process.
Surveys
For more information on the two surveys completed during the Update Process, please go here.
Plan Process
Open House #1 | Draft Plan #1 | June 2021
On June 28, 2021 the Village had the first open house to discuss the updated park plan and to again solicit ideas and input from residents, businesses, and non-profits for the future of the park. 14 people visited the two hour open house and provided input and feedback on the design.
Draft Plan #1 Downloads
Open House #2 | Draft Plan #2 | July 2021
A second Open House was held on July 27, 2021 from 5-7PM to review the second draft of the park plan. This meeting was held in the Village Government Center and included boards and documents which are able to be downloaded below. The turnout for this meeting was much greater than for the first draft meeting with over 60 people coming throughout the event and 25 comments provided via letter, email, or comment card at the meeting.
Draft Plan #2 Downloads
- DRAFT #2 Schoolhouse Park Plan
- Comments Received for July 27 Meeting
- List of Changes from Draft #1
- Value of Properties near a Park – Studies
- Select Images of Examples
Final Draft Plan & Adoption – August 2021
At the August 16, 2021 meeting of the Village Council a Final Draft Plan was adopted.