‘Imagination Park’ opening has residents dancing in the streets

MANSFIELD — Martha & The Vandellas marked the opening Monday of the “Imagination Park on 3rd Street.”

OK, so it was the group’s recording of “Dancing in the Streets” that boomed from the speaker minutes after the pop-up, linear park was officially opened along West Third Street, between Mulberry Street and Bowman Avenue.

But you get the idea of the significance of the 1965 hit song — and the experience organizers hope local residents will have in the park until it closes on Oct. 1.

The idea behind the temporary park, designed by local architect Matthew Stanfield of FiELD9: architecture, is to show what a permanent park like this may offer, according to Jodie Perry, president and CEO of the Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development.

“Parking lots are not bad, but this is what would it look like if there was a little more green here … if it was a little more walkable,” Perry told the sizeable crowd in attendance for the ribbing cutting — an honor assigned to Stanfield and volunteers who helped set up the park.

“We had this crazy idea and (Stanfield) brought it to life,” Perry said, adding about 30 people volunteered over the weekend to stage and the create the park in time for the Monday opening.

“I just want to say from the bottom of my heart, thank you, and I owe you and I hope you will still take my calls,” Perry said. “There was a lot of effort that went into this.”

The park is funded by a $25,000 grant that Richland Community Development Group received from AARP as part of its 2021 Community Challenge Grant program.

A linear park is a long, narrow park that often runs alongside a road or waterway. Local officials hope that eventually a permanent park could connect the new Imagination District with the historic Carrousel District. 

The park includes numerous interactive features such as a bike path, seating areas, lounging areas, entertainment areas, and more. Trees, shrubs, and flowers help give the land a more park-like feel.

A colorful crosswalk across Third Street was created by local artists Allison Pence and Robin Shoup. Other public artwork is also visible.

Food trucks are planned daily in the park and a closing event on Oct. 1 from 4 to 7 p.m. will include  live music, games, children’s crafts and and more.

Games from the nearby Little Buckeye Children’s Museum and displays from the Mansfield/Richland County Public Library are also along the park trail.

In designing the park, Stanfield said he and his staff looked at linear parks around the country, especially The High Line in New York City.

“We pulled ideas, but we also just generally said, ‘What would we want in a park?’ We realized our initial designs took up more of the street than allowed, not fully realizing the center lanes were where they were. So we had to scale everything back a little to allow the driving lanes to be maintained,” Stanfield said.

He selected wood pallets for many of the structures, both due to form and price.

“They are pretty durable and will stand up to the weather,” Stanfield said. “It’s also a generally inexpensive source of material. It also allowed us to build things quickly because they are already half assembled and it’s just a matter of cutting and putting things together.”

Perry said AARP had more than 3,500 applications for grants and only awarded 244.

“It’s really a big deal that Mansfield and Richland County received this grant,” she said, also offering thanks to park “co-hosts” FiELD9: architecture, Mansfield/Richland County Public Library, Idea Works and the Idea Works Entrepreneurs’ Kitchen, Little Buckeye Children’s Museum, Harmony House, Richland County Regional Planning Commission and the Richland County Foundation.

Mansfield Mayor Tim Theaker and Richland County Commissioner Tony Vero also offered remarks before the ribbon was cut.

“I want everybody to enjoy this,” Theaker said. “This is an event that will show what we can do if we make certain areas of the city green.”

Vero said this was a unique day in north central Ohio.

“We talk about the expansion of the City of Mansfield as we continue to move west,” Vero said. “It’s just a sign of growth in this community to maximize green spaces or create green spaces where they are not.”