Boardman Township continues work on planned historic district

BOARDMAN

Township residents may soon have a Riverside Gardens of their own, as township officials have begun the process of converting part of a chunk of donated property into a community space.

Township Administrator Jason Loree said he envisions the site will be similar to the Mill Creek MetroParks space in Youngstown.

The property, located on Raupp Avenue and obtained from Clarence R. Smith Jr. last year, is set to become the Southern Park Historic District, which will include the Smith property as well as the Southern Park Historic Stables located at 126 Washington Blvd.

“The longer term goal is to have this space be self-sufficient through rentals,” Loree said of the Smith property, which totals 11.1 acres. He said he envisions the property, which includes Smith’s house and a barn, as being used for events such as weddings and picnics.

Part of the space, which was part of Diamond Steel’s facilities, is being used as a storage facility for the township’s crisis response vehicles. This part of the property was purchased by the township last year. Smith then donated the rest of his property, including his house and many of his belongings, to the township.

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