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Macy’s hosts Boardman Park donation program
By Kalea Hall
boardman
Until March 31, Macy’s shoppers in Boardman will have the opportunity to donate $1 or more to the “Heart Your Park” fund-raising program for Boardman Park.
Macy’s will then match the amount received.
The park offers more than 20 types of events each year in addition to miles of nature trails, courts, playgrounds and the new dog park that was added last year.
“Number one, [the donations] enable us to provide our programs and services,” Executive Director Daniel Slagle said. “We are very busy. It’s better to have less and provide better quality [events].”
Over the years, the park has evolved through donations and grants, enabling more than $6 million to be invested into the park. Some of those projects include: Tot’s Town Playground, Maag Outdoor Arts Theatre, community and activity centers and the North Trail Project, which is handicapped-accessible.
“That is really a great addition to the park,” Slagle said of the half-mile asphalt trail.
What also has evolved at the park are the attendance numbers. Last year, the park offered 21 events with 38,540 people attending. Special events, such as the Oktoberfestival hosted by the Rotary, brought in 18,800.
There were a total of 3,000 reservations that brought in 255,000 people to the park. Casual visitors to the park mostly came in the summertime.
The park had 158,125 estimated visitors. Overall the attendance at the park last year was an estimated 470,465 — the largest Slagle said he has ever seen. But attendance is contingent upon the weather.
“Most likely, we will exceed it [this year],” Slagle said. “You can have all of the facilities in the world, but if you don’t have the programs that make good use of those facilities, then what good do they do? I think today people look for some type of wholesome activity.”
In addition to donations and grants, Boardman Park also receives funding from two five-year operating levies and nonvoter levy.
A 1-mill levy was instituted in 1948 and, 66 years later, the park still has three levies that equal 1 mill.
The levies generate approximately $753,925 annually.
“We are very proud of this record,” Slagle said. “I think that, generally speaking, we have been very prudent. Eighty percent of all projects were done through donations. Boardman Park is what it is today primarily because of the generosity of the community.”
A 0.03-mill renewal operating levy will appear on the May ballot.
This Saturday and Sunday and March 29 and 30 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., the park will have the Maple Syrup Festival featuring old-fashioned mapling demonstrations, Civil War history and re-enactments, woodcarvers, hayrides, an art show and gift-basket raffle.
There also will be a Boardman Rotary Pancake Breakfast all four days at the cost of $6 at the Lariccia Family Community Center. Children 6 and younger eat for free.