Fairfield Twp. officials are working to give their two parks different personalities in a new master plan trustees approved this week.
The township leaders have pushed to give each park unique identities, a push that will continue into 2020, said Fairfield Twp. Administrator Julie Vonderhaar.
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“This aligns with our long-term vision of building Fairfield Twp. to the future. It’s another key component to that,” said Fairfield Twp. Trustee Shannon Hartkemeyer. “The parks and amenities we have in Fairfield Twp. are key to our quality of life.”
Vonderhaar said she and the trustees have worked to give different experiences at Shafers Run Park, which added new playground equipment and installed a walking path. The dog park also has been updated at the park on Vonnie Vale Court.
Heroes Park, formally known as Millikin Road Park until last year, will get new playground equipment installed this spring.
“It gives the park (another) experience, and it appeals to more residents,” Vonderhaar said. “You can go to one and then the other and have a totally different experience.”
The township added pickleball lines to its tennis courts , and an Eagle Scout project added a tennis court practice wall. The park also has a resurfaced walking path and basketball court.
Heroes Park is scheduled to have a veterans memorial constructed in 2020. Township leaders hope most of the funding comes from the state capital budget, and that request was made earlier this month. The memorial will be installed where the existing playground equipment is located, and the new playground will be installed next to the memorial.
Until the veterans’ memorial is ready for site preparation work, which won’t happen until funding is in place, the existing playground equipment will not be removed, Vonderhaar said.
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The master plan also calls for an amphitheater at Heroes Park.
“It can be a central location for community activities, like our township movie night,” said Hartkemeyer. “Last year, we had the CommunityFest in the park, and I think the amphitheater will not only add to that event in the future but can create opportunities for new events.”
On March 24, the Veterans Memorial Group will launch a community awareness and fundraising push. The township requested $218,000 from the state for the $325,000 veterans memorial project. The township has put $50,000 toward the memorial, which is the maximum amount the township is allowed to give by law.
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