MANSFIELD, Ohio — Richland Carrousel Park has been a fixture in downtown Mansfield for a quarter century.
“People are surprised that it’s been 25 years,” Director Willie Hunn said. “For me, I’m not surprised because from the very beginning I felt like the carrousel would be good for the community, and it’s proven to be good for the community.”
The carrousel has increased foot traffic downtown, making that area an appealing place for businesses to set up shop, she said.
Hunn named a few businesses and said, “All of those have come in after seeing the growth of downtown Mansfield, and the carrousel was the stimulus that started that.”
To commemorate the carrousel’s first 25 years and the impact that it has had on the community, an anniversary celebration is being planned for Saturday, Aug. 27 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. An invitation-only celebration is planned for Aug. 26, which Hunn said will serve as a “thank-you to everybody that supported us for the first 25 years of being here.”
At these anniversary celebrations, the carrousel will unveil a new horse carved by Todd Goings of Carousels and Carvings in Marion. This is the first new figure to be added to the carrousel since it opened in August of 1991, Hunn said.
The carrousel consists of 52 figures, all of which were designed, carved and painted by Carousel Works of Mansfield. There are 30 horses and 22 menagerie figures.
Goings carved three or four of the figures, including the mythical hippocampus (part horse, part fish), Hunn said. She said the carrousel relies on Goings to help with maintenance of the carrousel’s mechanism.
The figure that will be removed to make room for the 25th anniversary horse will be set up in the pavilion and serve as a photo center for visitors.
“It will be stationary so it can be climbed on,” Hunn said.
Richland Carrousel is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
