SitemapIt was a project years in the making, but in just a few short weeks, children and adults alike will have a new playground to use in the Lincoln Knolls neighborhood on the east side of Youngstown.
“At every block party, I asked what people wanted to see in the community and they said something for the kids. Each year, that was the No. 1 thing they wanted,” said Marguerite Douglas, a member of the Lincoln Knolls Block Watch. “We did a survey and met with adults and kids. I talked with all ages, children and youth, that filled out these surveys. We wanted to know what they wanted on this playground, not just the adults.”
Douglas is also a board member for the Healthy Community Partnership-Mahoning Valley, a collaborative effort aimed at improving health outcomes in Mahoning and Trumbull counties. Through the partnership, the community group was able to coordinate funds and expertise for Lincoln Knolls Community Park, situated on a parcel between Lincoln Square Apartments and Danridge’s Burgundi Manor on Maranatha Drive. A groundbreaking for the playground was held Thursday afternoon.
“If you have more opportunities for residents to be physically active and present more opportunities to eat healthier, those two things can address all sorts of health outcomes that we know Mahoning and Trumbull county residents suffer from, such as diabetes, obesity and other chronic diseases,” said Sarah Lowry, director of the Healthy Community Partnership.
The playground, slated to open August 15, features the standard play sets and slides, but will also have exercise equipment. Additions such as a splash pad are being discussed, but any definitive plans are still far off, Douglas said.
Among the partners in getting the playground ready for local residents were the city of Youngstown, Mahoning County Land Bank, Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. and Midstates Recreation of New Albany, which designed the park. For many residents of the Lincoln Knolls neighborhood, including block watch president Ethel Hughey, the park is a sign of what can happen when a community works together.
To read the full story from the Business Journal, click here.