'A new energy': Flag raising ceremony at Liberty Park highlights Mansfield's park projects
William Myers remembers playing baseball and sledding in Liberty Park as a Mansfield youngster more than a half century ago.
"What a vision the founders had when this park was established back in the 1930s," the commander of VFW Post 9943 said Friday morning.
He and more than a dozen other local veterans visited the park on Grace Street to watch Old Glory be raised over an area than had fallen into disrepair in recent years.
"The park is now enjoying a resurgence, or a rebirth, so to speak," Myers said. "We're happy to be a part of this."
'A new energy is emerging at Liberty Park'
Friday's commemoration ceremony was possible because of collaboration from the entire community, according to Jodie Perry, mayor of Mansfield.
'The fun thing about the parks is that it really has made people excited," Perry said. "That makes me feel good, that they're taking some pride."
She hired Louis Andres this winter as the city's public works director because she wanted to make the parks one of her new administration's top priorities.
"It feels like a new energy is emerging at Liberty Park," Perry said. "I love that so much of this was grassroots driven."
Money for a flagpole was donated by veterans from VFW Posts 3494 and 9943.
The Coca-Cola Company pitched in to improve the park's basketball court.
City officials decided to replace the crumbling concrete sidewalks near the park's basketball court, making them ADA compliant in the process.
"We're reopening the public bathroom," Perry said. "All that had to be replaced... it was not usable, so we've got new stainless steel furnishings."
'Excitement for what's happening in the community'
Liberty Park is not the only city property to see improvements this year.
Residents who live near Maple Lake Park and Prospect Park will notice both of those locations are getting new playground equipment, a bill that cost the city nearly $150,000.
"Those were about $75,000 each," Perry said. "Those were big investments."
City officials still have smaller projects like tree trimming to complete this year, but the bulk of municipal park spending for 2024 is complete.
That doesn't mean, though, that other improvements aren't on everyone's radar.
"We are still very much at work on some more projects that we hope will come to fruition," Perry said. "We've got groups that are coming to us saying: 'Hey, we want to help, we want to partner with the city, where do you need help?' So you know, I just think that's exciting, and I I love to see that people are gaining some excitement for what's happening in the community."
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This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Liberty Park in Mansfield gets new basketball court, restrooms, flag
