Park will get grant

This marks the third state grant the park received for improvements in its west quadrant.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- A $100,000 state grant will allow Boardman Park to complete its west quadrant improvement project that started in 2001.
The grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources is for scrap tire material to be used as a base layer for a new parking lot. The $200,000 project uses 1,500 scrap tires, with the remaining $100,000 provided by the park as a local share.
"It's part of the west quadrant improvement project that's been ongoing since 2001," said Dan Slagle, park superintendent.
The scrap tire grant announced by ODNR Friday is the third grant the park has received for west quadrant improvements.
That project included the 150-seat Masters Pavilion and the 300-car lighted parking lot. Also included is installation of a handicapped-accessible playground, which is expected to be completed within 30 days, and a multiuse boccie pavilion expected to be done by late May.
In 2001, the park received a $131,300 NatureWorks grant from ODNR for the Masters Pavilion and its 300-vehicle lighted parking lot.
"At that time, there wasn't enough money to pave the parking lot," Slagle said.
Achieving that goal
The latest grant will help achieve that goal. Slagle expects the paving to be done this summer.
Last year, the park received a $65,853 NatureWorks grant for the multipurpose boccie pavilion. That pavilion will seat about 300 people.
"This will be the first public boccie facility in Mahoning County," Slagle said.
Besides the three grants, private donations also contributed to improvements in the park's west quadrant.
The boccie pavilion will include two courts built below ground level. A portable floor can be placed over the courts so the facility can be used for picnics and other events, officials have said.