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Parks Department City Parks Programs Adopt-A-Park-Program If your club, organization, or business desires to adopt a park, we will meet with you to discuss a potential park site. This program, started in 1980, is the largest of our programs. Park sites can be any existing park or any undeveloped piece of park land. You alone decide the extent of your involvement in this program. Your group could sponsor park cleanups, donate park or playground equipment, or do needed landscaping. Examples of the adopt-a-park-program include:
Tree Program Beginning in 1989, interest peaked regarding our environment. A group of local citizens, led by Eric Miller, approached the City Administration to match dollar for dollar any funds they may raise toward the purchase of trees to be planted in our parks and along various streets (tree lawns). The Parks Department welcomed this opportunity and the city accepted their challenge. Many donations and thousands of dollars have been matched and purchased the many new trees you see throughout our park system to enjoy, help clean our air, and make Mansfield an even better place to live. This program is a valuable asset to our community.
"HOOKED ON FISHING" The Summer of 1994 saw the beginning of a new program sponsored by the Park Dept. and the State of Ohio - Division of Wildlife. "HOOKED ON FISHING - NOT ON DRUGS" is held twice weekly at NORTH LAKE PARK - and was expanded to include Liberty Park Pond in 1995. (Summer months only) For more information - contact your park office at 755-9820. Vandalism Prevention The Vandalism Prevention Program was established in 1986. A generous grant from the Richland County Foundation was received for training one park patrolman and the Foundation provided a canine. Our K-9 Kelly was trained as an "approachable" K-9 for special use in our parks, making a walk through crowds of children safe. Further training included locating drugs, tracking lost children, detaining criminals and, of course, protecting his handler, the patrolman. Unfortunately, due to illness we lost our K-9 "Kelly". As vandalism cost climbed out of control in the early 80's, a third of the Parks Department budget was spent on repairing senseless vandalism instead of needed improvements. Today, our law enforcement coordinator is welcomed into our city schools every spring to explain the problems and cost of vandalism. He also presents programs to groups and schools at our historic Blockhouse in South Park. The program includes a tour and literature. We realized a tremendous reduction in cost of vandalism as a result of this program. A national publication, "Park Maintenance," in 1988, recognized Mansfield City Parks with an award for the best maintenance tip being the prevention of vandalism and needed repairs through our park patrol's program. Although vandalism may never be eliminated, we are pleased to report that today, most of our operating funds go toward park improvements that everyone can enjoy! For further information, feel free to contact the parks office (419) 755-9820. Area Volunteers Our thanks to the Volunteer Garden Club members who plant and / or maintain the beautiful gardens located throughout the city. Mowing and watering is provided by the Parks Department.
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