Alliance Parks officials praise agencies, residents

Alliance has a lot to be thankful for in 2022, including its service clubs and its vibrant parks system.

Representatives of these four groups converged Nov. 23 – the day before Thanksgiving – for an annual combined meeting.

Members of the three clubs packed the new Robertson Family Lodge at Silver Park, where Kim Cox, director of the Alliance Parks, Recreation and Public Lands, and Harry Paidas, chairman of the Alliance Parks Board, gave the three groups an update on the parks and some insight into future plans.

The meeting, which was hosted by the Lions, started with leaders of the three service groups addressing the crowd.

Haggy Hageman, president of the Alliance Kiwanis Club, said her group was thankful for the support of the community at its annual early November Pancake Breakfast and for supporting waffle sales at Days in the Park.

Eric Taggart, president of the Rotary Club, noted that the Rotary is thankful for support for the Fly the Flag project, which helps to fund many community endeavors as well as Rotary International’s mission to eradicate polio.

The Rev. Allen R. Kahler, the Lions Club’s King Lion, noted that the local club was thankful for continued support of its annual Rose Day, with 1,524 dozen roses sold in 2022, helping to fund eye care and eye screening programs at local elementary schools.

Praise for the parks

Meanwhile, Cox and Paidas said they were thankful for support of a levy that first was passed in 2018 and is expected to be up for renewal in 2023. Through the levy, the parks have become one of the greatest assets in Alliance.

Lions Club member Dave Williams, president of Friends of the Parks and operator of Williams Recreation and Construction, which specializes in installation of playground equipment, introduced Cox and Paidas.

“After 40 years of calling on city parks and recreation departments in Northeast Ohio, I believe our current status measures up to one of the best for its size of a community,” said Williams. “This is a result of the hard work and leadership that Kim and Harry have given to our city to make this happen.”

An overview of the parks

Cox said the parks system will celebrate its centennial year in 2023.

“I thank you all for your continued support of the parks year after year,” Cox told members of the three local service organizations. “I can always count on all three groups to support projects, be on board with donations or sponsorships or to be willing to be present in the continued development of our parks system. I am humbled by your generosity and thankful for your support.”

Cox noted that she is also thankful for donations from businesses and individuals that have led to some big projects in the parks, including the Robertson Family Lodge – the facility in which the meeting was held.

The lodge was a maintenance garage at Silver Park, the first formal park established in the city in 1923, and was original to the park, named after Charles Silver, a longtime city auditor. Thanks to a grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, a new maintenance garage was built and a donation from the Robertson family helped turn the old garage into another venue that can be rented out for parties and other events at Silver Park, the city’s flagship facility.

The parks system has grown substantially over a century and now encompasses more than 300 acres and consists of eight primary parks and five mini community parks.

The eight primary parks include Silver Park, Butler-Rodman Park, Memorial Park, Maple Beach Park, Thompson-Snodgrass Park, Earley’s Hill Park, the Robertson Community Center, and the Coastal Pet-Burnell Dog Park.

Mini parks include the Hester Mini Park (in the triangle bounded by North Park Avenue, East Harrison Street and Hester Avenue); Canteen Mini Park (at Western Avenue and Electric Boulevard); Oxford Mini Park (located on East High Street behind Rodman Public Library’s parking lot); Mahoning Mini Park (at Mahoning Avenue and Oxford Steet) and Haines Mini Park (at Haines Avenue and West High Street).

In addition, the city’s Parks Department also maintains the 51-acre Alliance City Cemetery and the following green spaces: Arch Park, Freedom Square, Milton Street islands, Madison Park, Cambridge Street islands, Fulton and Webb, Viaduct, the train station and Tanglewood.

Exciting plans

Cox gave some insight into some future projects within the parks system, including an ice skating rink at Silver Park thanks to a donation from Buckeye State Credit Union, a new meeting space and possible fit park at Maple Beach Park, an expansion of the Sean Scott Memorial Rotary Skate Park and a new pump track through an ODNR grant, and a Story Walk at Butler-Rodman Park thanks to a partnership with Rodman Public Library.

The pool at the Robertson Community Center will feature all new furniture this year, thanks to a grant.

Meanwhile, the park system’s newest addition, the Coastal Pet-Burnell Dog Park, is looking to raise funds for its continued upkeep and improvement projects. A bone board has been established, where patrons can buy a bone to honor or memorialize humans or furry friends or advertise a business, group or organization. A bone costs $50 and can include photos. For information, call 330-821-2260.

Thankful for staff, levy

Cox said she couldn’t say enough about her staff or the citizens of Alliance, who supported the parks system through the passage of a levy five years ago.

“We were seriously riding the struggle bus for a number of years before the levy was passed,” Cox said. “But funding through the levy has allowed the parks to become a viable and stable entity, and because of the levy we are able to obtain grants and match donations and enter into many collaborative projects that have been a great benefit for us.”

In order for the parks system to continue its momentum, the Alliance Parks Board will likely seek a 3-mill renewal levy in 2023.

Paidas said the group is targeting the May primary to place the levy on the ballot, but that it is still in the early stages and is contingent upon approval from Alliance City Council. The levy will not be seeking any new money.

“It’s hard to believe that five years ago we went before the voters to ask for the levy with slogan to Save Our Parks,” said Paidas. “The city budget was in emergency and we knew we needed to be independent in order to keep our park system running. The people of Alliance supported us and we passed with 68% of the vote. But now that levy is up, we will need to seek a renewal to keep one of the city’s greatest assets going again.”

This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: Alliance Parks officials praise agencies, residents