“If you have got families or individuals who are using this park who are enjoying the amenities, they’re going to think, ‘What else is going on around here?’” Moeller said. “Whether it’s our citizens, or whether it’s visitors to this park. They’re going to think, ‘There are some great things going on in Hamilton.’ ”
Present at the ceremony was attorney Stephen Marcum, whose parents, Hamilton Citizens of the Year Joe and Sarah Marcum, provided the largest-ever private donation for a Hamilton park.
“I just want to give a humongous thank-you to the Marcum family,” said Gerry Hammond, a member of the Hamilton Parks Conservancy’s board of directors. “This would never have happened if it hadn’t been for them, and their investment in this community has been just overwhelming.”
“We just cannot possibly thank them enough for all of this,” Hammond added.
Among amenities joining the existing nearby amphitheater will be two fountains, many trees and a stream that leads to a shallow pool for small children. Work should be finished in October.
“I think the mayor said it right when he said this is both a family-fun area plus an economic magnet,” said Stephen Marcum, who can watch progress on the park from his office in the First Financial Bank building. “I’m particularly excited about the economic effect, to be honest.”
His parents “saw the need, and they were lucky enough to have the wherewithal to make it happen, so we did,” he said. “They did ask the (four) kids if that was OK before they spent the money, and we agreed that it was a great project.”
Kristina Latta, a program coach and coordinator with Row America, which has facilities nearby, was among the three dozen people at the ceremony.
“This park is going to be the connector, I think, from the (proposed) sports complex across the river to here,” Latta said. “In terms of recreation, fitness and then cultural events for babies on up, you’re going to have everything you want and need right here.”
“I think the promise for the city is a lot bigger than probably most of the residents here can even imagine,” she said.
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