July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Labyrinth proposed for park (01/07/2009)
Portland Park Board
By By RACHELLE HAUGHN-
Some local service organizations will soon have another way to pay tribute to one of their own.
Tom Young, the brother of the late Anita Young, and Barry Hudson, a longtime friend, asked for permission to build a labyrinth at Hudson Family Park to honor Anita Young.
Young, who passed away in December, liked labyrinths, Hudson told members of the Portland Park Board on Tuesday night.
Board members gave Hudson the nod to proceed with the project. Hudson donated the land for the about 30-acre park to the city in 2000. The city is not committing any funds for the effort, and all of the stone materials will be donated.
Hudson said he will design the labyrinth, which is a series of circular-shaped maze-like paths that eventually meet near the center.
"A labyrinth is a definite path," Hudson explained to park board members. He said there would be eight layers of paths that are 36 inches wide. Labyrinths can be used as places of spiritual reflection, he said.
He said he plans to ask those associated with Jay-Randolph Developmental Services, the Cincinnatus League and the Jay County Historical Society to donate the stones for the path and help build it.
"In our minds, it wouldn't cost anything" to create it, Hudson said.
Bruce Hosier, mayor of Portland, who has been discussing the project with Hudson and Nola Albrecht, the landscape architect for the park, said the labyrinth likely will be less than a foot high and take up about 46 feet in the park. He said the exact location for the maze has not yet been determined, but Albrecht was sure there would be room for it.
Board secretary Sharon Bubp asked what the base of the series of paths would be and if it would be hard to mow.
Hudson said the base would be grass, but probably wouldn't need to be mowed. He said members of the service organizations likely would help with maintenance for the labyrinth.
Tom Young, said several people who came to his sister's services said they wanted to do something to express their gratitude to her. "I hope we can do Anita proud," he said.
In a related matter, Hosier announced that he expects to release details soon on how to fund the remaining work on the park project - such as a pond, amphitheatre and a headquarters for the street and parks department.
Hosier said he plans to make an announcement sometime in the next two weeks. He said he hopes bid-letting for the project will be held in the spring, with extensive work on the project beginning in the spring or summer.
"That's good. It's been a tedious process," said park board president Neil Medler.
"I think we're going to see some major advancements on this project this year," the mayor said.
When Hudson donated the land for the project he gave the city 10 years to complete it. He stipulated that by the summer of 2010, at least the pond and amphitheater must be in place or the land will be given to Arts Place.
After the meeting, Hosier declined to release details on the funding plans. The remaining work on the park - which also includes a new street and parks department building - is expected to cost $2.75 million to $3 million, he said.
In other business, board members voted to allow a traveling softball team for girls ages 12 and younger to use the softball diamond at Milton Miller Park for games and tournaments.
The Dirt Devils team, which currently has 11 members, was founded in September. The team members hope to compete in tournaments and state and national competitions.
Team managers Howard Wickelman and Jake McKibben also asked the park board for permission to hang a banner at the park stating when the practices will be, and to make needed improvements to the park. Medler told the managers to work with street and park department superintendent Jeff Harker on repairs that are needed at the park.
Medler said he was pleased that the team would be using the park, which doesn't see much action. Medler added that giving girls that age more experience in softball might make them better athletes when they get to high school.
Also Tuesday, board members re-elected Medler as president, Kent McClung as vice president and Bubp as secretary.[[In-content Ad]]
Tom Young, the brother of the late Anita Young, and Barry Hudson, a longtime friend, asked for permission to build a labyrinth at Hudson Family Park to honor Anita Young.
Young, who passed away in December, liked labyrinths, Hudson told members of the Portland Park Board on Tuesday night.
Board members gave Hudson the nod to proceed with the project. Hudson donated the land for the about 30-acre park to the city in 2000. The city is not committing any funds for the effort, and all of the stone materials will be donated.
Hudson said he will design the labyrinth, which is a series of circular-shaped maze-like paths that eventually meet near the center.
"A labyrinth is a definite path," Hudson explained to park board members. He said there would be eight layers of paths that are 36 inches wide. Labyrinths can be used as places of spiritual reflection, he said.
He said he plans to ask those associated with Jay-Randolph Developmental Services, the Cincinnatus League and the Jay County Historical Society to donate the stones for the path and help build it.
"In our minds, it wouldn't cost anything" to create it, Hudson said.
Bruce Hosier, mayor of Portland, who has been discussing the project with Hudson and Nola Albrecht, the landscape architect for the park, said the labyrinth likely will be less than a foot high and take up about 46 feet in the park. He said the exact location for the maze has not yet been determined, but Albrecht was sure there would be room for it.
Board secretary Sharon Bubp asked what the base of the series of paths would be and if it would be hard to mow.
Hudson said the base would be grass, but probably wouldn't need to be mowed. He said members of the service organizations likely would help with maintenance for the labyrinth.
Tom Young, said several people who came to his sister's services said they wanted to do something to express their gratitude to her. "I hope we can do Anita proud," he said.
In a related matter, Hosier announced that he expects to release details soon on how to fund the remaining work on the park project - such as a pond, amphitheatre and a headquarters for the street and parks department.
Hosier said he plans to make an announcement sometime in the next two weeks. He said he hopes bid-letting for the project will be held in the spring, with extensive work on the project beginning in the spring or summer.
"That's good. It's been a tedious process," said park board president Neil Medler.
"I think we're going to see some major advancements on this project this year," the mayor said.
When Hudson donated the land for the project he gave the city 10 years to complete it. He stipulated that by the summer of 2010, at least the pond and amphitheater must be in place or the land will be given to Arts Place.
After the meeting, Hosier declined to release details on the funding plans. The remaining work on the park - which also includes a new street and parks department building - is expected to cost $2.75 million to $3 million, he said.
In other business, board members voted to allow a traveling softball team for girls ages 12 and younger to use the softball diamond at Milton Miller Park for games and tournaments.
The Dirt Devils team, which currently has 11 members, was founded in September. The team members hope to compete in tournaments and state and national competitions.
Team managers Howard Wickelman and Jake McKibben also asked the park board for permission to hang a banner at the park stating when the practices will be, and to make needed improvements to the park. Medler told the managers to work with street and park department superintendent Jeff Harker on repairs that are needed at the park.
Medler said he was pleased that the team would be using the park, which doesn't see much action. Medler added that giving girls that age more experience in softball might make them better athletes when they get to high school.
Also Tuesday, board members re-elected Medler as president, Kent McClung as vice president and Bubp as secretary.[[In-content Ad]]
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