Park land purchase hits snag

Most of the money has already been donated.
& lt;a href=mailto:jgoodwin@vindy.com & gt;By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR & lt;/a & gt;.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
POLAND -- The former McQuaids gas station property here is on its way to becoming a community park, but village officials will first have to acquire the property.
A village family has donated $150,000 to the Streetscapes committee -- a group of citizens involved in various community projects -- to create the park. The family has also pledged additional funds in the future should they be needed.
Longtime Poland resident Ray Peterson died April 23. His wife, Marie Peterson, and daughters Pam Elliot and Amy Friedrich decided his memory could live on through the proposed park on the current McQuaids site.
"When we knew of my dad's illness and passing, we thought it would be nice to be able to do something," said Friedrich. "We all approved of the peaceful park atmosphere [village officials] have in mind."
The family has asked that the park be named Peterson Park.
Robert Mastriana of Streetscapes said the money will be put to good use. He said the current building would be demolished and landscaping added. A large fountain would be installed with 7-foot-tall statues of Poland's founding fathers.
The clock tower at the site will remain in place. Columns and other aesthetic features are also planned.
Mastriana said between $15,000 and $20,000 has been spent making the statues, which were created by Poland artist Tom Antonishak. He said an estimate of $50,000 was given several years ago to bronze the statues and that estimate may be higher now.
Town center
Mastriana said the fountain will cost an estimated $50,000 and the landscaping will also be about $50,000. He said park will be well worth the effort once it is finished.
"We don't have a town center," he said. "All the beautiful historic communities were laid with a town center. We are trying to create what is lacking in our community."
Mastriana said Ray Peterson's family is willing to forward all memorial donations for Ray Peterson to the project to make up for additional money needed to complete the park.
Before the park can become a reality, however, village officials must acquire the property. Members of council and Mayor Ruth Wilkes have shown reluctance to buy the property because of liability concerns.
Wilkes said the former gas station land has 22 test wells below ground that check for soil contamination. One of those testers, she said, has shown a very small amount of soil contamination.
Village officials have discussed hiring a specialist in legal environmental issues to determine what the village's responsibilities would be after buying the property. Village Solicitor Damian DeGenova is also looking into the liability concerns.
Wilkes said that, though she wants to see the park become a reality, she has concerns about naming the public park after anyone. She said village officials need to explore the issue and discuss the implications before going forward with the offer.
Mastriana said members of Streetscapes are working with village officials to make sure the property is acquired.
& lt;a href=mailto:jgoodwin@vindy.com & gt;jgoodwin@vindy.com & lt;/a & gt;