Staff Writer
Morningn Journal/Mary Ann Greier
Salem Rotary Club members gather in the open field slated to become Rotary Recreation Area in Waterworth Memorial Park. As part of itâs 100th anniversary, the club donated $50,000 to the Salem Parks Department to develop the land located just north of the Center Circle indoor soccer field near the Salem Community Center.
SALEM Salem Rotary celebrated 100 years of giving with a new gift Tuesday: $50,000 for the city parks to establish Rotary Recreation Area.
Introduced as “a multigenerational, multifunctional family gathering place to socialize, practice sporting skills, and stay fit,” the Rotary Recreation Area will be located on a 1-acre patch of land in Waterworth Memorial Park.
mgreier@salemnews.net
SALEM Parks Director Shane Franks said he’s received nothing but strong support for a project to upgrade Centennial Park lights to LED.
Franks discussed the project during a public hearing held Wednesday night regarding the grant being sought to help pay for the lighting upgrade.
The Salem Department of Parks and Recreation is applying for a NatureWorks grant of up to $10,000 through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The grant would cover 75 percent of the cost and the parks department would need to fund the other 25 percent.
Franks said he received an initial quote of $7,355 from YESCO Electrical Supply in Columbiana for at least 38 lights, but he asked them to add two more so the quote will be updated for 40 lights.
mgreier@salemnews.net
The city parks department is exploring the idea of becoming a Bee City USA to promote pollinator gardens and possibly provide educational programs about bees.
City Parks Commission members want to know more, though, about the benefits of being a Bee City USA.
Commission Chair John Panezott said he knows the importance of bees, but if the commission is going to pay an annual registration fee of $200, “tell me what I’m going to get from them for my $200.”
Parks Director Shane Franks said two or three people approached him about the idea of Bee City USA, which is along the same lines as Tree City USA but with bees. He approached Salem Mayor John Berlin to see if there would be any issue with it and he said there wouldn’t be.
Staff Writer
SALEM The city parks department is exploring the idea of becoming a Bee City USA to promote pollinator gardens and possibly provide educational programs about bees.
City Parks Commission members want to know more, though, about the benefits of being a Bee City USA.
Commission Chair John Panezott said he knows the importance of bees, but if the commission is going to pay an annual registration fee of $200, “tell me what I’m going to get from them for my $200.”
Parks Director Shane Franks said two or three people approached him about the idea of Bee City USA, which is along the same lines as Tree City USA but with bees. He approached Salem Mayor John Berlin to see if there would be any issue with it and he said there wouldn’t be.
SALEM Operation Harassment has begun against the geese at Waterworth Memorial Park.
On Wednesday, city Parks Director Shane Franks and Parks Foreman Jim Grimm informed parks commission members about the scare tactics being employed to thin out the goose population.
Those methods include firing off noise effects known as bangers and screamers twice a day, in the morning and in the afternoon, and equipping police with laser pointers to harass the fowl later in the day during park patrols.
Franks said the intentional harassment techniques were recommended by the Columbiana Soil and Water Conservation District in a management plan accepted by the board last year for improving water quality and eliminating geese.