Bancroft Park rededication held
Bancroft Park had a rededication ceremony on Friday, May 25 at 10 a.m. As part of the ribbon cutting ceremony, Lewis “Pooch” Blackson, a graduate of Bancroft Elementary School, rang the original school bell as the ribbon was cut. Beth Scott | Beacon
COSHOCTON – What started as a run-down lot has now become a beautiful playground for young children in the neighborhood. A rededication of Bancroft Park was held Friday, May 25 at 10 a.m. with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
The Bancroft Lot was once home to Bancroft Elementary School, which has long since been torn down. Since that time, it has been home to a basketball court, a tennis court, and even an ice skating rink at one time. When the city decided to renovate the lot, they had a public input meeting in the fall of 2016 and it was decided to create a park that younger children ages 10 and under could enjoy.
“I am so gratified by what the city has been able to do with this park,” said Mayor Steve Mercer. “There are kids all the time out here and that’s exactly what we’re looking for.”
The first feature of the park installed was a new walking path around the park. Funds for the path were donated by Coshocton Rotary. Lyn Mizer and Doug Speicher donated funds specifically for the installation, and the equipment was funded primarily through funds that Lake Park shares with the city from their levy. The equipment has been in storage at William Alberts Excavating and was just installed last week. Coshocton Kiwanis Club also donated to the project.
After the first weekend of installation didn’t go as originally planned, the city brought in Hathaway Construction to finish the project.
“Without them, this project would not be where it is right now,” said Mercer.
One of the challenges Hathaway Construction dealt with was the foundation of the school, which is still there. The company was able to work around the foundation with very little problem.
Among the people gathered for the ribbon cutting was Lewis “Pooch” Blackson, a graduate of Bancroft Elementary School. He had a painting of the school on a box that was done in 2003 and the original school bell. He said that a woman brought it to him many years ago and he’s had it ever since. He remembers a man by the name of Roberts who used to ring the bell to bring all the kids in from recess. During the ribbon cutting, the bell rang once again as Blackson rang it as those gathered counted down from five to cut the ribbon.
Mercer said the city hopes to renovate Hall Park near Seventeenth Street next. He also said they hope to put in a bus shelter at Bancroft Park soon.
Category: Government
