Rotary donates $40,000 toward first phase of Harrison Common

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Rotary Club of Youngstown contributed more than $40,000 to Wick Neighbors Inc. to enhance the first phase of Harrison Common in the Wick District-Smoky Hollow neighborhood.

The contribution was for the construction of the pergola and historic plat map.

WNI Board Chairman Paul Olivier, senior vice president of business development at Humility of Mary Health Partners, will formally acknowledge the contribution of the Rotary Club at WNI’s quarterly board meeting at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Butler Institute of American Art, Second Floor Conference Room.

“Harrison Common is a beautiful first step in what we believe will be the reawakening of this area,” said Olivier, “and the Rotary’s generous contribution of the pergola and historic map provide focal points for visitors to the park.”

Harrison Common-Phase One, funded, in part, through a grant to WNI from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and constructed and managed by Youngstown State University, includes a brick- paved plaza for community events such as concerts and plays, the Rotary’s pergola, stone benches created from salvaged sidewalk paving and new landscaping.

The park was conceived by WNI as part of the Wick District-Smoky Hollow Revitalization Plan and is a key element of the larger Smoky Hollow revitalization project.

The Rotary Club’s contributions of the central pergola and the large inlaid map replicating the original Sanborn map of the neighborhood represent the Rotary’s ongoing commitment to civic enhancement and downtown redevelopment.

Additional features that include a large, community pizza oven and herb garden are to be added in the spring.