$400K gift to Mill Creek Park will update Wick Recreation Area

By Elise Franco

efranco@vindy.com

Youngstown

Juliana Kurinka knew years before she died that she’d leave everything she had to the place that meant so much to her.

After her death in 2005, a $400,000 donation was made by Atty. Robert Rusu on her behalf to the Mill Creek Park Foundation to be used for the James L. Wick Recreation Area.

Rusu, of Canfield, said before Kurinka died at 93, she decided to donate the money as a way to help people enjoy the park the way she enjoyed it with her son, who died before her.

“She gave the money because she had such fond memories of taking her son and her grandchildren to the park,” he said. “She wanted that to be available for other families to enjoy.”

Steve Avery, MetroParks operation director, said the money was given with the stipulation that it be used to benefit children and children’s activities within the park.

“We decided to rebuild or add onto our Wick Recreation Area playground,” he said. “The current play area was installed in 1989 or 1990.”

In 2006, the MetroParks put together a Master Plan for the Wick Recreation Area, which is on McCullum Road and includes the Par 3 Golf Course.

Avery said the plans included a three-part play area that would feature an adventure area, a tot playground and a wet playground.

Read the complete story Monday in The Vindicator and at Vindy.com.