Fountain, walkway to be added at Firestone
COLUMBIANA — A new fountain and a new walkway from the pool parking lot to the football stadium are some of the projects slated for the Harvey S. Firestone Park this year.
In addition to the multi-million-dollar improvement project spearheaded by the Columbiana Restoration and Beautification Committee (R&B), Park Board President Dr. Ron Detwiler said during this week’s park board meeting that money was donated for a new fountain at pavilion 4, and the walkway is planned to get under way in July.
The Columbiana Area Tourism Bureau has donated $3,000 for the new fountain, and another donor is expected to give a sizable donation for the fountain project once everything is finalized, Detwiler said.
Detwiler pointed out that the fountain and sidewalk projects are being done by the city and are not part of the major R&B improvement project.
The city was able to secure Ohio Department of Transportation funding for the new walkway and construction is expected to begin in July with completion targeted for October.
The ODOT grant is for $266,000 and covers 95 percent of the project cost, with the city responsible for the remainder.
Detwiler said that Jeff Stoy has donated all of the labor for the sidewalk project, which has allowed for money to be spent on other things around the pavilion.
Detwiler is pleased that so much support has been shown for work that needs to be done at the park.
“Everybody, from the chamber to the tourism board, to R&B, to the city, has really stepped up,” he said.
During the meeting the park board also heard from R&B Chairwoman Pat Tingle, who sought their input on the new landscaping project that will begin next year at the park.
The R&B is working with Terra Design Studios out of Pittsburgh on the project.
Tingle also said she is looking into the idea of specialty gardens in some of the smaller unused areas of the park. In particular, she would like one to be in the memory of Harvey S. Firestone’s wife, Idabelle. She would also like to have an arboretum in honor of her own husband, Bradford Tingle.
Park Manager Terry Shaffer indicated that should not be a problem.
kwhite@mojonews.com