Grafton scales up park infrastructure

The Grafton Village is in the process of engaging the community in bringing to life a face-lift on one of the area’s longtime parks.

Willow Park, located on Main Street in the southeast corner of the village, is one of four parks, and residents can look forward to more reasons to enjoy them and the natural green space.

A new stage area and ADA-accessible playground structure were scheduled to be installed in late September harnessing another facet of community life in Grafton.

The construction of the project is partly funded with a NatureWorks grant and will also include a “community build” with help of representatives from Miracle Midwest Recreation to install the playground structures.

The village is seeking volunteers from the community to help construct the new play structure. The dates for the work are Sept. 25-28 at Willow Park.

Linda Bales, Grafton’s special projects coordinator, said the project will include several all-inclusive items in addition to installing a stage area between the two areas that will be covered by a large shade canopy. That replaces the present structures.

The total cost of the projlage ect is estimated to come in at $204,525 with the village receiving a NatureWorks grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for $104,277.

Additional funding in support of the project came in the form of a $5,000 grant from the Lorain County Solid Waste District and the Lorain County commissioners and $1,000 from the village’s insurance agency for the playground’s mulch.

Bales said the playground will have a new type of mulch that is made from scraps of rubber tile.

Representatives from Miracle Midwest, the supplier of the playground equipment, were to be on hand to supervise the installation during the community build Sept. 25-28. Village personnel are also performing some of the tasks to prepare the site and help with the installation which will be used as part of the Village’s contribution to this project.

“With the installation of the new play structure and stage area the village is moving forward with our plans to enhance the green spaces within the village and increase the quality of life our community to make the village a ‘Place You Can Call Home,’ ” Bales said.

Willow Park also features a baseball diamond and a pavilion and complements other village parks in addition to the Lorain County Metro Parks Trail which leads to Indian Hollow.

COURTESY OF VILLAGE OF GRAFTON The present playground structure at Grafton’s Willow Park will be replaced in late September with new ADA accessible playground equipment as part of a $204,000 upgrade to the park.