BELLVILLE — Emma Root climbed the steps of the new playset and headed toward the tallest green and blue slide. She disappeared into the tube, her shadow rounding the twists and turns until she emerged at the bottom, giggling as her tiny feet dangled in the air.
It was a special day for the 4-year-old and her family, who came to Bellville to celebrate the dedication of a new playground Friday.
The brand new set at Charles Palm Park, 4777 Bellville North Road, was named in honor of the late Carolynn Studenmund, a beloved figure in the Clear Fork Valley and Emma’s great-grandmother.
All three of Studenmund’s children were in attendance, along with numerous grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Studenmund’s daughter, Lynda Root, was pleased to see her mother’s legacy live on through the playground.
“It’s an amazing tribute to her. She loved children, loved the outdoors,” she said.
Bellville Mayor Teri Brenkus chose Studenmund as the honoree, citing her extensive dedication to the community. Studenmund died in 2013 at age 83.
Studenmund and her husband, Morris “Mick” Studenmund, moved to Bellville in 1958 to manage Camp Templed Hills, located south of the village.
Studenmund was a member of the Clear Fork school board for eight years, five of them as president. She spent 20 years on the board of the Mansfield/Richland County Public Library. She also volunteered with the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and was on the Bellville Shade Tree Commission.
After serving two years on Bellville Village Council, Studenmund was elected the first female mayor of Bellville, a position she held for 22 years. She helped form the Clear Fork Valley Chamber of Commerce and was a member of the Bellville Fire Department and Auxiliary. A longtime member of the Presbyterian Church of Bellville, she also served as an elder and taught Sunday School into her 70s.
“Everybody knew her,” recalled Studenmund’s grandson, David Root. “You’d try to walk down the street and it’d take you twenty minutes because everybody would stop and say ‘Hey Mayor!’”
“It just shows the impact that one person can have in a community,” he added.
The playground equipment was paid for with a $75,000 grant from the Richland County Foundation. The village paid approximately $76,000 for the installation and construction, retaining wall, fencing, railing, sitework and parking area.
Local contractors Brennstuhl Construction Inc., Custom Cutters and Liberty Lawn Care also donated time and supplies.
It took about three months to put together the set, which came with thousands of unlabelled pieces and no assembly instructions.
Brenkus said the village plans to add musical instruments, benches and picnic tables to the playground area as funding becomes available. The village also plans to clean up and stock the ponds in the future.
Brenkus hopes the new playset will heighten the community’s awareness of the park, which also hosts a pavilion, firepit and nature trail.
