Park project is recognized

A planner said the neighborhood typifies the working poor of America.
By ED RUNYAN
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A $600,000 project to rehabilitate six homes and build a 1.2-acre park at Maplewood Park in Hubbard Township earned the Trumbull County Planning Commission recognition from the Ohio Department of Development.
The effort also provided street paving and storm drain improvements.
Julie M. Green, a county planner, said the park was completed in April, ending a couple of years' work in the low-to-moderate-income area southwest of Hubbard. The project qualified for three types of grants that were secured by the planning commission because of the residents' income levels.
The project started in 2003 with a survey of the 340-plus residents showing that more than 83 percent of Maplewood Park residents are low- and moderate-income. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, the average household income in the neighborhood is less than $25,000 a year.
Green said the neighborhood represents the working poor of America because the unemployment rate for males age 16 to 64 in the neighborhood is 0 percent.
Citizen involvement
Green attributed the success of the project to the citizens who got involved in the project, especially the 40-year-old Maplewood Park Improvement Club, which worked on the survey and the construction of the park.
Acquisition of the 1.2-acre park was completed through the efforts of various county offices in acquiring the 21 parcels of needed land. Maplewood Park residents Heflin and Earma Willingham donated one additional parcel.
The project included 16,200 feet of pavement on nine streets and installation of 1,000 feet of storm drainage pipe.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the park is planned for sometime this month.
On Wednesday, county commissioners recognized the planning commission for its work on the project. The Ohio Department of Development will present the planners with the Governor's Award for the project July 26.
Enterprise zone approved
In other business, commissioners approved the enterprise zone agreement with Leedsworld Inc., a company considering a move to the vacant former Delphi Packard building in the Warren Commerce Park. Leedsworld produces, processes and distributes promotional material and goods.
The agreement would give the company 75-percent tax abatement for 10 years on new real property improvements, 100-percent tax abatement on personal property the first three years, and 25 percent the next seven years.
Commissioner Dan Polivka said the company has still not made a decision on whether to locate at the site. It has pledged to make the decision sometime this month.