MANSFIELD — Michele Giess admitted Wednesday that her initial pitch about the Sterkel Community Park for All is a distant memory.
But at least partial success is clearly in sight for the superintendent of Richland Newhope on the 20-acre, all-inclusive park and playground at the city park off Hillcrest Street.
“That feels like a long time ago,” Giess said about the night in August 2021 when she initially described the project to Mansfield City Council, a multi-million project that has been a public-private partnership since its inception.
“But I am thrilled with the amount of money we have raised and the progress we have made,” she said.
Giess and others have said the park will be one of Ohio’s premier community parks, where residents of all ages and levels of abilities can visit and enjoy.
(Photos taken Monday at Sterkel Park, showing work that’s been done to date and also looks west where work will be done this summer. The story continues below the photos. )
She said phase one of the project is 90 percent complete and that a combined second and third phase should be complete by the end of September.
“We are on track for that to happen,” Giess said. “We will try to have it open for a period of time before the weather sets in, as long as we don’t have any issues with getting materials and things in needed for the project.”
At that point, the park will be open to the public, though the planned final two phases of the project will not begin until additional funds are raised.
Giess said more than $4 million has been raised thus far, allowing the first three phases. The final two phases will need another $1.5 to $2 million in funding, which would include a nature course and an obstacle course.
Phase 1 includes pickleball courts, fitness equipment under roof, a large pavilion, ping pong tables, benches and restrooms. Phases 2 and 3 will include the primary playground area, both for younger and older children.
Donations needed
Financial donations to the Sterkel Community Park for All can be made online at the Richland Area Chamber of Commerce website at www.richlandareachamber.com.
Scroll to the bottom of the Chamber’s home page and click on “sector groups” under “Initiatives;” then, click on Sterkel Park Sector’s “donate” button.
Gift checks can be sent to PARK-RCDG, in care of Newhope, 314 Cleveland Ave., Mansfield, Ohio, 44902.
The City of Mansfield Board of Control on Tuesday awarded a $263,662 contract to Ironsite Inc. from Sunbury, Ohio, to handle the city’s portion of the second and third phases. It offered the lowest of three bids for the work.
“They’ve done a lot of park projects,” Bianchi said of Ironsite Inc. “Actually, they’re working on a $10 million project right now for the city of Columbus. “They’re extremely qualified.”
Other bids were submitted by Mc. B Paving from Cleveland ($305,130) and SiteWorx Unlimited, LLC from West Farmington, Ohio ($276,820).
That work will be done on the west side of the park, including site preparation, excavating/grading, sidewalk installation and tree planting, according to city engineer Bob Bianchi.
That money completes the city’s $700,000 commitment to the project, using a portion of Mansfield’s American Rescue Plan Act funds and donations from the Richland County Foundation, Bianchi said, as well as “in-kind” labor donations.
Giess said she hopes additional financial support will come in after the public gets a chance to visit the park in a few months.
“I think that’s kind of the hope,” she said. “After people can visit and enjoy what’s there, we hope to generate a little more interest and excitement around the project and allow us to finish (the last two phases).”
