Monday, July 30, 2012
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Veronika Aey, 2, plays in a pile of sand at the sand sculpture contest at Mill Creek Park in Youngstown, Ohio on July 29, 2012.
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(L-R) Mark Dolak, Jan Crewson, Linda Armstrong and Carl Antonelli make up the group 'Wedesday Walkers' competing in the sand sculpture contest at Mill Creek Park.
By Elise Franco
Youngstown
Mahoning Valley residents took their talents to the sand as they let their creative juices flow during Mill Creek Metro-Parks’ sculpture contest.
The Sand Sculpture contest Sunday at the Wick Recreation Area in Youngstown, drew people of all ages and ideas.
The contest was a part of the MetroParks’ Sunfest, which consisted of events throughout the day such as a nine-hole golf tournament, Zumba, hiking, children’s activities and live music.
For the first time this year, the contest was divided into age groups — adult, 18 and older; youth, under 18; and family, any mix of ages.
Linda Kostka, MetroParks marketing and development director, said the sand sculpting contest is always a popular draw. The park set up 20 piles of sand that could be purchased as an entry for $8, and nearly all of the piles were sculpted, she said.
“People like to be creative, so this is a nice event,” she said. “Kids, especially, love it.”
Angela McGrady, MetroParks employee and one of three judges, said the winning sculptures were chosen based on creativity, staging, construction quality, originality and detail.
Rebecca Essenmacher, of Austintown, came armed with a group of seven others, tools and a photo of a giant sand castle built on Weymouth Beach in Dorset, England, that marked 100 days to the start of the 2012 Olympics.
“We’ve been overcome with the spirit of the Olympics,” Essenmacher said about the decision to recreate the sculpture. “We came here for the fun.”
Next to Essenmacher and her family was a group of their children and grandchildren, who also went with an Olympic-themed sculpture, building an arena.
Serena Kennedy and Zach Mellinger, two teens from Austintown, said they participate in the event every year and based their sculpture on the notion that summer ends too quickly.
“People always say summer passes by too fast, so we have Father Time in a vortex, making time for more summer,” Kennedy said. “It’s a fun way to show your creativity, and a good day for everyone to do something unique.”
Kostka said the sculptures will remain intact on the walkway next to the Morley Pavilion through Thursday morning.
“We always have people call, wanting to see them after the fact.” she said. “This is the first time we’re leaving them up.”