Talking up Smoky Hollow

The public can propose ideas for the look of a new park.
& lt;a href=mailto:wilkinson@vindy.com & gt;By D.A. WILKINSON & lt;/a & gt;
VINDICATOR RELIGION EDITOR
YOUNGSTOWN -- Wick Neighbors Inc. kicked off its membership drive with a religious analogy.
Atty. Paul Dutton, one of the chairmen of the financial drive, urged people Wednesday to get "religion" about the group's plan to revitalize Smoky Hollow.
"Get on the bandwagon," Dutton said. "Continue to spread the religion and the collection plate."
He spoke at a meeting of the group at the Butler Institute of American Art.
Wick Neighbors wants to build homes and condominiums in Smoky Hollow at an estimated cost of $250 million to redevelop Youngstown.
Dutton said the plan affects not just Youngstown but other portions of Mahoning and Trumbull counties as well.
Fund-raising goals
Margaret Murphy, Wick Neighbors' executive director, said the goal was to raise $150,000 by May 16. Memberships range from $25 to $5,000.
Wick Neighbors wants to raise $750,000 -- including the membership drive -- to fund its initial operations.
The group has received some grants, and Dutton said he expected the group would have no problem reaching its goal.
The group is also seeking about $5 million in grants and other funds to begin development. In recent months, the group has been developing bids for projects such as surveys of 80- to 90-year-old utility lines in Smoky Hollow that must be made before construction begins.
Public comment
Wick Neighbors also will have an event to get community input on the future look of Harrison Field, the baseball field in Smoky Hollow. The ballfield will become the area's park area under the revitalization plan.
People will be able to give their comments on what the park should look like and contain.
The comments will be taken from 3 to 6 p.m. March 4 at St. John's Episcopal Church. Those comments will be refined by architects in a competition and then put out for bid.
& lt;a href=mailto:wilkinson@vindy.com & gt;wilkinson@vindy.com & lt;/a & gt;
XPeople interested in joining can contact Wick Neighbors Inc. at (330) 743-3175 or http://wickneighbors.org.