Working on plans for 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 that 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.

He said the donation has allowed the MetroParks to move forward with designs for some aspects of that master plan, though how much is still unknown.

“We already know for a fact that the wet playground won’t be part of the initial construction because of its cost,” Avery said. “We do want to do a sand play area. Our intention is to have a raised play table and areas where children can dig and excavate.”

The wet playground would cost about $80,000. Avery said he’ll understand better how much money will remain for equipment and construction once demolition of the current playground and the installation of sewer and utility lines is complete.

While Avery said the goal of breaking ground this summer doesn’t seem to be likely, he thinks work will begin this year.

“It’s still our intent to break ground and do a lot of work before the end of the year,” he said.

Clarke Johnson, MetroParks executive director, said they’re working on putting together the bid package and a design consultant was hired in January to expedite that process.

“We’re really not sure of the scope of it yet,” he said. “It depends on what the bids come back at.”

Johnson said no matter what aspects of the plan are implemented, it’s an exciting project for the parks and the community.

“Playground equipment has changed so much since we got some of our older stuff,” he said. “It will be neat to bring in new and innovative equipment.”

The current equipment isn’t age-specific and much of it isn’t handicap-accessible, Avery said.

“It won’t be boundless, but it will be considered mostly accessible,” he said.

“Many of the components will be completely accessible.”

Rusu said he thinks Kurinka would be content with the way the plans are taking form.

“She wanted to make sure the money would go back into things ordinary people would be able to use to give their children family experiences,” he said.

“I think she would be happy.”

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