MANSFIELD — Anna Marie Durtschi chooses to look at the bright side and consider possibilities that could foster positive change.
That mentality is what led to the development of “Friends of North Lake Park.” Durtschi started this group about a year ago in response to repeated issues raised at her local Neighborhood Watch meetings. Durtschi, a Mansfield native, remembers visiting North Lake Park as a child.
“We knew that the park used to be clean and fun and it wasn’t a place to be feared,” she said.
Durtschi hopes to instill that thinking among people today and has a few ideas up her sleeve to help in the process — one being a new event dubbed “Taste of Mansfield.”
Slated for Saturday, Aug. 27 at North Lake Park, this event will feature local food vendors, live music, activities for children, dance groups, as well as a beer and wine garden. Taste of Mansfield is meant to provide a day of fun for families and highlight local restaurants and talent.
Durtschi said attendees will be encouraged to arrive by bicycle and perhaps check out the new mural to be painted along the Richland B&O Trail.
Friends of North Lake Park is partnering with Mankind Murals Incorporated to add a vibrant mural on the West Fourth Street bridge. The intended design was created by local artist Mark Calloway. Those interested in helping with the painting of this project are asked to contact Durtschi at annadurtschi@gmail.com or visit mansfieldmurals.org.
Down the road, Durtschi said she’d love to see artwork along the whole bike trail, “like an outdoor living museum.”
She’d also like to have some signage on display near the bike trail entrance, “something colorful and welcoming,” she described, that reads, “Welcome to North Lake Park.”
Next year, she hopes to have an event in which bicyclists ride the whole bike trail, starting in Butler and finishing in Mansfield at North Lake Park, where there will be a festival.
Another idea is to create a space that people could use for yoga classes, Mommy and Me classes and other recreational activities. A potential location for such a space, she said, could be where the swimming pool used to be.
Nearby that area is a hill, where the Coliseum Roller Rink once stood. Durtschi said they’ve talked about the idea of carving stadium-like seating into the hillside with a stage built at the base to be used for concerts, theatre productions, film showings, etc.
She said they’ve also talked about adding a “meditation garden” to the park. Other ideas pertain to the pavilion.
“The pavilion is very bland, so we’d like to get some things in there that are historical, reminiscent of the area,” she said.
In that vein, a canvas painting of the Coliseum Roller Rink is in the works, she said, which will be hung inside the pavilion.
“It’s a way to instill pride in the community and promote a historical value with the younger people that don’t really know about the old Coliseum,” said Tony Durtschi, Anna’s husband.
Anna voiced her appreciation for all the support shown to Friends of North Lake Park.
“There are a lot of people who want to help,” she said. “We welcome it.”
Durtschi said she hopes the group’s efforts to spruce up North Lake Park will inspire more positive and healthy changes throughout Mansfield.
Friends of North Lake Park meets the final Monday of every month at 7 p.m. at the North Lake Park pavilion. To learn more about this group and its latest projects, visit its Facebook page.
