The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Park is adding more activities
LaGrange Community Park is adding what it can do to cater to a wide range of interests. “We continue to work to be as efficient as possible, and make the park a hotspot for the community,” said Nick Fedor, chairman of the park’s board. “We have been looking to incorporate more ideas. “We have been really aggressive the last two years adding more to the park than just the mainstream sports to appeal to a wider audience.” Fedor said there has been more added to focus on health and wellness at the park at 422 W. Main St. “We have added some initiatives made possible through (Keystone Empowers You) who is a collaborative with United Way (of Greater Lorain County), and they collaborate with Lorain County (Public Health),” he said. “They have really stepped up and helped us fund projects. “One of the things is the water bottle refilling stations they have placed in the park. It has made folks less reliant on disposable water bottles. They have also added a bocce ball pit. “The game is throwing a ball 20 to 30 feet, and trying to get other balls as close as possible to that one.” Fedor said emphasis on games like bocce ball are what helps the park appeal to more people. “With bocce ball, anyone can play it,” he said. “It’s one of those fun games that does not take the best athlete to play. “It’s one of those social games that is just a fun activity, and all the equipment, the pit, the balls, are already at the park and can be used at any time. It’s a game that can be played by seniors.”
Other activities
Fedor also said there is a spot for golf enthusiasts at the park. “There is an artificial turf that was put in,” he said. “So, folks can grab their putter and chipper and practice their short game at the park. “We also have a walking trail throughout the park. It has multiple different access points, and there is plenty of space for folks to keep their distance during the (novel coronavirus) pandemic. The trail is about 2.4 to 2.5 miles.” Fedor said there also are some potential projects in the works. “We are looking at adding a batting cage for our hot stove league; baseball/ softball is obviously the big component of the park with our fields,” he said. “We would also like to give the park more of a draw in the winter time. “It will have a sled hill, ice skating rink and a place for folks to get hot chocolate. We will also expand that area with a patio for folks to utilize in the summer as well.” Fedor said the ultimate goal is to make the park a place for everyone to enjoy. “We want to make it accessible for everyone,” he said. “We want it to be used for as many different ways and usable for many different groups.” Zach Young, 12, a sixthgrader at Keystone Middle School, is a regular at the park. “I love to come here,” Zach said. “I like to bring my bike and ride all over. “There is so much to do. There is an area where we have football practice in the summertime, and the pond is a good place to fish. It really sucks with COVID-19 stopping a lot of people from being here at once, but I look forward to it returning to normal.”
“We continue to work to be as efficient as possible, and make the park a hotspot for the community. We have been looking to incorporate more ideas.”
—Nick Fedor, chairman of the park’s board