GALION — City officials and community members celebrated the groundbreaking for a new pavilion at the Galion Big Four Depot on Saturday.
This project has been in the works for a little under a year, according to Matt Echelberry of Galion Depot, Inc.
It’s being funded with a $200,000 grant from the Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission and up to $30,000 in local funds. City council authorized the grant application in March and the State of Ohio Controlling Board approved funding in June.
Mayor Tom O’Leary believes the new pavilion will be a focal point in the community and a place for special events, such as dance recitals, choral arrangements and theatre performances.
“This will be the largest space for public art display in the entire county,” he said.
The one-story pavilion, which will be 1,205 square feet in size, can be enclosed and will also feature a fireplace and wraparound overhang.
The project architect is John Grauduss and the contractor is the Weithman Brothers of Galion.
O’Leary said it’s the hope of the Galion Depot, Inc. to come up with three or four major events per year to hold at the pavilion. The remainder of the time, the pavilion can be used as a rental venue for weddings, reunions, among other events and activities.
The projected opening is May of next year.
