Friday evening, a number of St. Clairsville residents gathered at South Park off Clark Avenue in town. They came together for a brief dedication of two newly built accessible picnic tables built for the park and donated by Bill Brooks and Levi Miller.
Both gentlemen each paid for a table while Miller put them together. The South Park Community Project Group decided to dedicate each table to an influential city resident.
Small plaques were affixed to the tables, one honoring current Ward 2 councilman Frank Sabatino, the other, to the late Sherman and Irene Lyons, both of whom dedicated their lives to serving others and raised their children in the area surrounding South Park.
For members of the project group, it was a fitting way to honor three people who worked to give back to the community.
It’s also the next step in the revitalization process at South Park.
Recently, a sign was erected coming up the hill adjacent to the park, letting everyone know that this is South Park.
The group, which initially raised more than $500 from proceeds from the Ohio Valley Rib & Chicken Cookoff, added more than $1,500 to its project fund after a successful garage sale at the home of Brooks.
“We had a lot of people come forward and donate items and we were able to make over $1,500 at the garage sale,” Brooks admitted. “And our go-fund me is finally up and running.”
The group’s GoFundMe page can be found here, while the group also has a Facebook page to keep members and interested parties alike updated with their progress.
Brooks, who was the leader of the group, is turning his duties over to Annie Upperman Freese. He’s remaining a member of the group but wants Upperman Freese to take the reins.
Brooks, meanwhile, is focusing his attention on the upcoming race for the open Ward 2 council seat that Sabatino is vacating after he decided not to seek reelection.
“I have a good crew and I’m turning this over to Annie,” Brooks said. “I want to focus on the race, what I can do for the ward, and also for the city as a whole.”
Park Progress
The group holds regular meetings with brainstorm ideas about what to do with the park and things they’d like to see. Any major work will acquire the approval of the city, as it falls under the direction of the St. Clairsville Recreation Department.
As such, Brooks admitted the group needs to see the direction the city wishes to take before it decides how to spend its money.
City officials have been invited to the group’s meetings but, with the exception of Sabatino, no other elected officials or city employees have stopped by a meeting.
Brooks noted a few things the group would like to see done.
For one, he’s hoping the current fencing is moved back a little bit to allow for space for equipment for toddlers. He’s also hoping a concrete pad could be poured to place seating near the proposed toddler portion that would allow parents to watch while their children play.
They’d also like a picnic shelter erected. The hunt for playground equipment continues as well. The main overarching plan, however, is to mold South Park into a neighborhood park that people of all ages can enjoy.
The city has enlisted the help of local architect Gabe Hayes and a group he belongs to. Brooks doesn’t want to combine the project group’s efforts, and in turn its raised money, because he wants to make sure every dollar raised is accounted for and spent on the project, not to go toward people working on the project.
