Visit Canton hands out tourism grants to new dog water park, Canton Palace, other projects

Canton Repository
·3 min read
Iris Menegay, a Stark County artist, works on a new mural last year at Umbrella Alley in downtown Louisville.
Iris Menegay, a Stark County artist, works on a new mural last year at Umbrella Alley in downtown Louisville.

CANTON – Visit Canton is handing out more than $388,600 in tourism grants this year to help boost Stark County attractions ranging from a new dog-friendly water park to one of Ohio's premier haunts.

The county Convention & Visitors' Bureau announced the 2024 Destination Enhancement Grants this week for 11 organizations.

“We are excited to support these major enhancements that elevate Stark County’s destination appeal," Visit Canton President and CEO Allyson Bussey said in a prepared statement. "This was a very competitive process with many worthy projects submitted for consideration.”

Who received Destination Enhancement Grants in Stark County?

The following organizations, communities, and businesses received awards ranging from $10,000 to $50,000:

  • Canton Palace Theatre: $50,000 for Americans with Disabilities Act work related to its 100th anniversary capital project. An additional 24 wheelchair-accessible seats, ADA-compliant restrooms, and staging enhancements will make the facility more accessible to patrons and performers.

  • Hartville/Lake Community Development: $50,000 for a new historic downtown gateway marker at the intersection of West Maple Street and Prospect Avenue. The spot connects downtown businesses with other major Hartville attractions, including Quail Hollow Park, Maize Valley Winery & Brewery, Hartville MarketPlace & Flea Market, Hartville Hardware and Hartville Kitchen.

  • National First Ladies Library & Museum: $50,000 for new wayfinding signage to connect the Saxton McKinley Home, the National First Ladies Library & Museum, and guest parking. A fountain will be added to the First Ladies Park, a multi-purpose public park for educational programming and special events.

  • Warehouse on the Canal in Canal Fulton: $50,000 for an outdoor event venue and public art space overlooking the canal. A new community-focused public art mural will also be included. The grant was awarded in partnership with ArtsinStark.

  • Akron-Canton Jellystone Park in Lake Township: $46,124 for the creation of Clearwater Bark, a private dog park for camping guests and day pass visitors with a large zero-entry wading pool, variety of dog-oriented splash features, agility course and space pet-friendly play

  • Hall of Fame Village in Canton: $41,176 to expand the holiday light display and on-field experiences during the Winter Blitz, including on-field igloos, an additional 140 lighted trees and branded scaffoldings for Touchdown Tube Hill.

  • 720 Market: $38,000 for the Holiday Village of Shops at Oakwood Square Plaza in Plain Township. The shops will become an annual holiday event throughout November and December. Local shopping and themed activities will be featured.

  • McKinley Presidential Library & Museum in Canton: $20,448 for new interactive, hands-on displays, including a PixelPeg interactive display that will be inclusive to all guests, and exterior signage.

  • Factory of Terror and Ohio Christmas Factory in Canton: $20,000 for new exterior signage and fence scrim for the parking lot.

  • Umbrella Alley in Louisville: $12,500 for new seasonal artwork will be installed in Umbrella Alley in downtown that will allow the alley to become a year-round attraction when the umbrellas are not on display. The grant was awarded in partnership with ArtsinStark.

  • Stark Parks: $10,359 for a Bipolar Butterfly Project art installation at Petros Lake Park in Perry Township. The project is being done with Stark Mental Health & Addiction Recovery, and the public art piece will complement the existing Mindfulness Walk at the park. The grant was awarded in partnership with ArtsinStark.

The projects are set to begin this year and are scheduled to be completed within two years of receiving the grant award.

Visit Canton received 18 Destination Enhancement Grant applications, totaling over $709,000 in funds requested. A committee of Visit Canton executive staff and board members reviewed applications and approved the projects.

Winter Blitz at the Hall of Fame Village includes a tube slide inside Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
Winter Blitz at the Hall of Fame Village includes a tube slide inside Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Visit Canton awards 2024 Destination Enhancement Grants