Henry Clay receives grants for park
HENRY CLAY TWP. – After recently receiving state grants, a committee is moving closer to holding the grand opening of the township park. Recently, the township was awarded a $30,000 grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development, and just this week, members of the township’s park committee learned they were granted another $10,000 from the county.
Committee member Diane Berkebile said that both awards will help the park move “that much closer to opening.”
The committee will use the $30,000 award to purchase playground equipment, make the park handicapped-accessible and upgrade the parking area, Berkebile said.
Part of the grounds on which the park is situated was donated, and the remaining ground was purchased through donations and a grant.
Because of all the donations involved, Berkebile said items such as the mile-long walking path and the multipurpose ball field haven’t been named yet.
However, the committee did hit upon a name for the park: the Henry Clay Township Community Park.
A large boulder near the park entrance on Martin Road bears the name, and the sign features a scene of trees and deer that was engraved earlier this year.
Workers recently finished pouring concrete around the first pavilion.
Berkebile said the committee already is considering building another pavilion as interested backers come forward and offer donations of materials and funds. In addition to the pavilion, picnic tables and trashcans already are in place, she said.
“The park isn’t open as yet. That is something we discuss at every meeting,” she said.
Several factors have delayed the park’s official opening, Berkebile said.
The group wanted to have the ball field seeded properly before installing the goal posts, but the grass that was planted in the spring failed and needs to be redone, she said.
Instead of dedicating the field to just baseball, softball or soccer, the committee worked to have the field large enough to accommodate all three activities until other fields could be constructed.
“The new playground, will help the park begin to really look more like a park,” Berkebile said.
Instead of having the traditional swing sets, the committee opted for a design incorporating tunnels, tubes, slides and climbing fun.
Kids can access five or six of these fun activities from the ground, while more adventurous kids can access another seven or eight by climbing.
The committee decided to wait to install swing sets because of the room and materials they require, Berkebile said.
Though a number of plans for the park are still apt to change, Berkebile noted that attractions such as the nature walking path that circles the park have been cleared and opened but not completed. Final touches are needed before the opening, she said.