Fairfield Twp. trustees against renaming park for firefighter

The park at Morris and Millikin roads in Fairfield Twp. will not be named in honor of a firefighter, according to a trustee vote last week.

Fairfield Twp. trustees voted 2-1 against a proposal to name the park — which officially has no name but informally is known as Morris/Millikin Road Park and Firefighter’s Park — in honor of the late assistant fire chief Paul McKendry.

McKendry, who was the township fire department’s first full-time employee, died on Feb. 23, 2009, at 51 years old.

Trustees Susan Berding and Shannon Hartkemeyer voted against the measure, not disagreeing that McKendry was deserving of an honor and recognition. However, they said his contributions to the township didn’t rise to the naming of a park.

“We should honor his 23 years of employment,” said Berding. But said the naming of a park property “is a really important decision” and that “it’s not something we should do lightly.”

The township trustees in May changed their naming protocol policy for township property, like buildings and parks.

In mid-July, a petition was submitted to the trustees requesting the park be named “Assistant Chief Paul McKendry Memorial Park” in honor of a man who spent his entire career with the township, founded the township’s Explorer program and was a Boy Scout troop leader.

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About the Author

Michael D. Pitman

Michael D. Pitman has been a reporter in southwest Ohio since 1999. He's covered local governments in Warren and Butler counties, as well as state and national issues. He currently covers the cities of Fairfield and Hamilton.