[ad_1]
As we head into September and the fall months, it’s time to take a look at what happened at Firestone Park in Columbiana in 2021 and what lies ahead. The expressions of appreciation from so many city dwellers now increase as they see the changes taking place in the park. It is indeed a kind of rebirth, with historic ties honored and new features reflecting the pride Harvey and Idabelle Firestone must have felt when they considered their legacy to Harvey’s hometown.
During the year 2021, beautiful new historic signs are mounted at the entrances. Lloyd Miller sculpted them based on the original signs, and he spared no detail to make them meaningful. “Harvey S. Firestone Leisure Park”, they announce, with such majesty that you know better things are to be seen inside the park. The story is made in accordance with the vision of the Firestones.
The restoration of Mirror Lake was the start and it is seen and walked daily by residents and so many visitors from out of town. Aqua Doc keeps the water clear and colorful, and the wonderful plantings of Keith Kaiser and Terra Design Studios at David Tingle Memorial Garden and Three Pillars in honor of Firestone and his friends Edison and Ford add a remarkable seasonal color.
All pavilions have been redesigned and have new names, with signs set to go up this fall. Twin Oaks, Spruce Tunnel, Maple Grove, and Mirror Lake are their new names, and each reflects the creative work of Cindy Tyler of Terra Design as well as the names she has given them. Notice the special plantings around each pavilion; they add evergreens, shrubs and perennials as well as annuals to showcase lodges at their best.
Seeing the sports fields completed and used daily by so many grateful residents has been uplifting. The pickle ball is benefiting from its introduction to the park with many enthusiasts using the courts daily. A sign will soon be erected to thank our residents, businesses and local organizations who made the restoration possible in collaboration with the Restoration and Beatification. Special appreciation to Jim Feath of HRG who did the design and installation.
The latest publications noted the “Million dollar parking lot” and its completion shortly after the swimming pool opens. It’s filled so many days with the cars of pool patrons, and the Clipper debut football game also saw it being used near full capacity. That, along with the new lighted walkway to the football stadium providing fans with a safe path to the game, makes it a very good investment on the part of the city and the Bradford and Patricia Tingle Foundation. The project solved so many practical issues such as drainage and safety, as well as adding an aesthetic element… organic channel plantations offering color and environmental enhancements… and Harvey’s Lookout is on the hill celebrating its new vision of the general appearance of the park.
The exterior of the Pool House has been remarkably upgraded with new stucco and many additional features designed and implemented by C. Tucker Cope, Co.
A new fence with a variety of plantings around the outside, a new awning for
the terrace and a rich display of plantations at the entrance made by our friend horticulturalist, Keith Kaiser, add to a spectacular look for this charming original structure so essential to the offer and appearance of the park.
What is still in progress and awaits us in 2022? The Legacy Trail which occupies the top of the hill in front of the pool house is halfway through development by Enviroscapes, our main contracting company working with Terra Design Studios for the implementation of the design. You can see, from Park Avenue and the pool parking lot, the progress made on the Hanna Cabin ruins / hearths and the Spring Garden.
The columns of the Idabelle Firestone meeting place are also visible from these vantage points. The accompanying rendering shows the work of architect Paul Hagman in designing this important addition to both the park’s history and recreational use. The building he designed reflects elements of the Firestone monument in the graveyard with its columns and classic beauty, as well as the iconic stone structure of the other four pavilions in the park. This new facility not only adds to the beauty of the park, but provides new cultural and educational opportunities for residents and visitors. Designed as a performing arts amphitheater with the hill offering 200 seats, it accommodates musical groups for performances, families celebrating weddings and special events, and students / teachers for classes in halls at the interior. It has public toilets, a water cooler and storage space for a wide variety of users. In combination with the gardens that will surround it, it is a tribute to Idabelle Firestone’s love for gardening and music.
The girls’ softball field is also in the early stages of construction, adjacent to the athletic fields and the Mirror Lake pavilion. A gift from the Alexoff family to the Columbiana Girls Softball Association, it will include new fencing, dugout canoes, new indoor and outdoor fields, fan seating and landscaping. Completion of this project in late fall is expected. R&B is indebted to the Alexoffs for their generous contribution in honor of their grandson Madison. The field will bear his name.
The Dog Park project is also well advanced, with contributions now of approximately $ 72,000 and over. The committee responsible for this popular addition has done an exceptional job organizing events for fundraising. The location of the dog park is visible by following the hiking trail sign behind the maintenance building. A new two-lane roadway will be completed to provide better access to this new functionality as well as to hiking trails and ball fields in this area.
And so, a rebirth, that’s it, wouldn’t you say? All that remains is now in the hands of the school district, which now owns the ball fields. A committee has been organized to raise funds for a new football stadium for 2023. Baseball and softball fields / stadiums are also in dire need of restoration. A challenge for the school district, but given the progress now evident in the restoration of Firestone Park, their offerings will surely add to the restoration and beautification of the park and will come with time. (Material submitted)
[ad_2]
Source link