The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Lakeview Park Easter basket draws crowd
Families from across the area gathered April 16 to take part in the traditional Easter Sunday photo.
Families from across the area gathered April 16 to take part in the traditional Easter Sunday photo in front of the Easter basket at Lakeview Park in Lorain.
Families of all ages and sizes dressed in their Easter best crowded the large basket filled with oversized colored eggs and a wooden cutout of a brown rabbit as they awaited their opportunity to have a picture taken with the landmark.
The basket was unveiled in 1941 and made by Lorain parks worker David Shukait.
A nearby plot of yellow, orange and red tulips also served as the background of many an Easter selfie.
Ryan Dickason, 41, of Lorain, and his family visited after attending service at Zion Lutheran Church, 5100 Ashland Ave. in Lorain, and eating lunch, in order to take pictures of his nephew with the basket.
He said he planned to spend the rest of the day with his family.
“It brings the family together,” he said. “(It) reminds us why we are here.”
Crystal Cruz, 36, of Lorain, brought her two children, Jayla Cruz, 10, and Jayden Holt, 2, to the park to take their annual photo with the Easter basket. She said they’ve been taking photos there for about three years.
She said the family attended church at House of Praise, 4321 Elyria Ave., before coming to the park. After the park, they planned to eat lunch and visit with family to color eggs.
According to Cruz, it wouldn’t be good if the Lorain County Metroparks ever chose to remove the basket.
“See how many people it brings,” she said gesturing to the crowd around the basket. “I think it’s a good city to bring people out to the beach here. It’s one of the monuments of Lorain.”
Kristy Allen, 39, and Jim Allen , 46, both of Brunswick, were trying to get photos with themselves and their twin two-year-old daughters Cara and Abby. After the pictures, they intended to bring an apple pie and a vanilla cake with chocolate frosting to a family member’s house for dinner.
Kristy Allen, who grew up in Lorain, said the history of the basket is part of the allure to those celebrating the holiday.
“My parents used to bring me here when I was little,” she said.
Jim Allen attributed it to the weather.
“Beautiful weather,” he said. “Beautiful day.”