Circleville, Ohio — Circleville’s Elks Lodge No. 77 made a significant contribution to the Friends of Ted Lewis Park with a donation of $2,500. The check was presented by Wes Riley (left) to Larry Logan, chairman of the Friends of Ted Lewis Park, on (date).
The donation is in support of the group’s ongoing efforts to revitalize Ted Lewis Park. Currently, the Friends of Ted Lewis Park is focused on building a new concession stand to support the many baseball teams that use the facility. This project is part of a larger initiative to improve the park’s amenities and accessibility for all visitors.
Larry Logan, a prominent advocate for the park, recently discussed with members of the Circleville City Council the reinstatement of basketball courts in the park. The creation of these courts is part of the group’s commitment to making the park a more inclusive and engaging place for the community. Logan, chair of the Friends of Ted Lewis Park, spoke before the strategic planning committee and expressed excitement about recent fundraising successes. “In the last 10 days, we raised $130,000 for the park,” Logan reported. He emphasized the need for basketball courts, a project he said will be funded by Forjak Industrial. Logan urged the committee to pass an ordinance to include these courts in the park’s master plan.
The proposal has drawn mixed reactions from council members and the community. Some members, like Chairman Theis, praised the Friends of Ted Lewis Park for their efforts but raised concerns about the impact of adding basketball courts. Theis noted that while the park has undergone numerous improvements, including new lighting and a planned new shelter, the addition of basketball courts could conflict with the priorities of the park’s current master plan.
The master plan, developed in 2015 with citizen input, set priorities based on a survey of 856 citizens. Top items identified in the survey included walking and biking trails, improved park safety, and a new splash pad. Basketball courts were among the least desired features.
Committee members debated the relevance of the 2015 survey, with some suggesting it may be outdated. “Nine years is a considerable period of time and the park has changed significantly since then,” noted one committee member. There were calls for a new survey to gauge current public opinion before a final decision is made.
To follow the progress of the Friends of Ted Lewis Park and stay updated on upcoming projects and events, visit their Facebook page.
