POLAND'S PLEASING PARK

By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
WO FAMILIES' GENEROSITY and the efforts of a community group combined to turn a former eyesore into a destination spot in the heart of Poland Village.
Peterson Park, in the triangle where U.S. Route 224 and state Routes 170 and 616 meet, was dedicated to the community in a ceremony last week, culminating plans born about six years ago.
That's when Town One Streetscapes, a group with a mission to make the community "more livable," working with the Poland Rotary, completed the clock tower also on the island and started thinking about how to beautify the island. A McQuaid's gas station used to sit on the spot but closed.
The group bought the property in July 2005.
Larry Warren, Streetscapes president, pointed to the generosity of the Peterson family, for whom the park is named, and the Scotford family, for making the park a reality.
"When we realized how ill my father was, we wanted to do something that would honor him," said Amy Friedrich of Poland, a daughter of Ray Peterson, for whom the park is named.
Her father mounted a similar effort to create a fountain in Boardman in memory of his wife and Friedrich's mother, Polly Peterson, after she died. Friedrich says that her stepmother, Marie Peterson, also of Poland, agreed that contributing to the creation of the park would be a way to honor her late husband.
Friedrich learned of the vision that Robert Mastriana, an architect and Streetscapes member, had for the park, and the family signed on.
Longtime residents John Sr. and Judy Scotford and their son, John Jr., wanted for years to see the service station go. But the elder Scotford said it took Streetscapes' efforts to get it done.
He also praised the Peterson family.
"Not a lot of people would do what these people have," Scotford Sr. said
Continuing effort
He gets wistful when he talks about all of the beautification projects in the village, referring to the park, the Poland library branch, walkways to the Yellowcreek Theater and how everything fits together. There's nothing else in the Mahoning Valley that looks like the center of town, he said.
"Poland has never looked better," the younger Scotford added.
The park features pergolas -- columnlike structures -- that match the Greek-revival style of the library, park benches, flowers, trees and shrubs and decorative lighting.
Wrought-iron arches adorn each entrance. They are from a design by Mastriana and Tom Antonishak with engineering assistance from Ted Heineman, all of whom are Streetscapes members.
A stone wall around the park's perimeter elevates the main area of the park about 41/2 feet above street level, separating it from the busy road and its accompanying traffic noises, Warren said.
The stones came from West Federal Street, the site of the Nathaniel R. Jones federal courthouse, and were part of a steam tunnel built in the early 1900s.
Town namesake
In the center is a 1,500-pound bronze statue of Gens. Casimir Pulaski and Thaddeus Kosciusko, two Polish generals from the Revolutionary War for whom the community was named. Antonishak sculpted the work, which is surrounded by fountains.
The two generals helped train and lead Colonial troops during the war.
Warren said that group members initially were concerned that the park's location may deter visitors.
"We've been pleasantly surprised at the number of people in the park," he said. "A lot of people have used it."
Some buy ice cream at the nearby Bruster's and walk to the park to sit and eat their treats. Small school groups have enjoyed picnics there, and still others just come and sit on the benches, the group president said.
Friedrich believes her father would be pleased by the complete park that bears his name.
"He'd love it," she said.