Canfield Township receives money for park


By kalea hall

khall@vindy.com

canfield

Canfield Township recently received $40,000 in grant money from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for the Canfield Township Park on Herbert Road.

The plan is to build a pavilion, add picnic tables, charcoal grills and install security cameras.

Altogether, the project is estimated to cost about $50,000.

“We are always looking to improve the quality of life in the community,” said Keith Rogers, township administrator.

There have been several improvements and additions made to the park since it was purchased in 2006. Expanded parking, a playground, basketball court and multi-use facility were added.

The money received came from two separate ODNR grants. The nature works grant provided the township with $15,000, and the land and water conservation grant provided $25,000.

The multi-use facility building will be open for use in the near future. The township had to receive occupancy from the health department before it could be used. The water and sewer lines also had to be connected to the building.

Rogers said all of the future additions will be handicap accessible.

Eight security cameras will be placed around the park to keep it safe and help to catch any vandalism that might occur.

Rogers said there was some vandalism this year with broken glass in the multi-use building.

In the future, Rogers would like to create a bike path to the park from the Mill Creek MetroParks bike path.

“It is an asset of the township, so therefore we do have to focus on it and make it available to the residents,” said Marie Cartwright, township trustee.

Cartwright said the previous trustees purchased the land and surveyed the community to see what the community members wanted for the park.

She hopes to see another community group form and develop a park the community wants.