Poland Township Park upgraded

By Denise Dick

Installation of playground equipment is expected later this summer.

POLAND — If you haven’t been to the township park lately, you’ve missed out on improvements.

“All of the roads have been paved,” said Mike Heher, chairman of the township park advisory board.

After years of planning, the park, between Cowden, Moore and Miller roads, opened last year with the Poland Youth Soccer Association playing its games there.

Cowden, which runs off of Struthers Road, and Moore Road were paved by Essroc as part of a deal that enabled the company to mine near the property several years ago.

Of the 1.25 miles of trails snaking through the park, about 1 mile has been covered with mulch, said James Scharville, township administrator.

The soccer association plans to build a pavilion that will accommodate between 12 and 15 picnic tables. The association also plans an accessory building there.

The township also will build a pavilion, likely this summer.

“It will be near where Kidstown will be,” Heher said of a playground area.

The township has the playground equipment but initial bids came in too high so the park board is seeking more bids for installation, Heher said.

“We’re hoping to have that in this summer,” he said.

In 2001, the township worked out a deal with BFI, now Allied Waste, for the park property. It spans about 87 acres at Cowden and Moore roads. The company owns the land and the township leases it for $1 per year.

A tentative contract between the soccer association and the township is being reviewed by township officials. It would allow the association to lease the soccer fields for $1 for 25 years. The association, which is required to carry liability insurance, also would be responsible for the accessory building and field improvements under the proposed agreement.

Fence made from recycled materials has been erected around part of the park property through a grant from the Recycling and Reuse Division of Mahoning County.

Work to bring the park to life also involved members of Boy Scouts Troop 2.

“They laid out the trails and we cut them in,” Heher said.

For an Eagle Scout project, one member built a bridge out of telephone poles and planks. Another planted different types of trees around park property.

“Last year, another boy came to me to do an Eagle Scout project,” Heher said. “I told him to research the first families in Poland.”

Park trails were named for those early families: Walker, Miller.

The newest advisory board member is putting his touches on the park as well.

Ken Filicky, formerly an assistant naturalist at Mill Creek MetroParks, built 14 nesting boxes for birds and hung them throughout the park. Other Filicky additions are educational.

“He’s putting up signs on trees, telling what kinds of tree it is,” Heher said.

denise_dick@vindy.com