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Coolville playground-park project recognizes contributors

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Federal Hocking Board of Education and Administration and special guests met Monday to accept initial funds from contributors for the Coolville Elementary School Community Park and Playground. Front row, Chris Chmiel, Athens County commissioner; Lester Green, Board of Education; Anna Burke, of the Restore Coolville Committee; Kalista Collins, representing Brent Hayes and Bedrock Tool Rental, $5,000; MarJean Kennedy, Ashton Cale and Tyler Chadwell of Holzer, $30,000, and Ohio State Representative Jay Edwards; back row, Federal Hocking Superintendent Dave Hanning; Board of Education student liaison Brianna Baker and Board Member Kerry Sheridan-Boyd, representing Mike Putnam and Kevin Schwarzel of White-Schwarzel Funeral Home, $1,000; Bill Elasky, Board of Education, representing Randy Moore Petroleum, $1,000; Michael Simmons and Larry Simmons of Simmons Insurance Group, $4,000; Brent Chadwell of 1st National Band of McConnelsville, $1,000; Mary Mitchell, Coolville Elementary School Principal; Richard Schultz, architect and feasibility study, and Athens County Sheriff Rodney Smith. Also pledging money ($2,500) but unable to attend Monday’s event was Century National Bank, Steve Haren. (Photo Provided)

COOLVILLE -- Initial contributors for the Coolville Elementary Community Park and Playground were recognized Monday in the Coolville Elementary School Gymnasium.

The Federal Hocking Local School District and the Athens County Land Bank recently purchased two properties adjacent to Coolville Elementary School for the playground and community park.

A house and garage on the property will be torn down and the area will be cleaned up in anticipation of the park and playground. Working on the project is the Restore Coolville Committee.

Coolville Elementary School Principal Mary Mitchell said the school and community are thrilled by the project plans.

After the property was acquired, community members reached out to businesses to help turn the land into the park and playground.

Funding is still needed for the project, Mitchell said. Anyone needing more information or to make a donation can contact the Federal Hocking Local School District in Stewart at 740-662-6691 or Mitchell at Coolville Elementary School at 740-667-3121.

Project officials will be meeting with an architect about the plans next week. More details will be known about the playground-park project after a meeting with the architect, officials said.

The property for the park-playground is attractive with many trees, Mitchell said.

The current school playground does not have much room and cannot be expanded, Mitchell said. Coolville Elementary has 300 students in grades pre-kindergarten through sixth.

The community thought a park was needed as a place for people to celebrate milestones and hold activities, Mitchell said. A pavilion might be built on the property.

Pat Tabler, building-grounds-technology-transportation director for Federal Hocking Local School District, has been instrumental in developing the park-playground project, Mitchell said.

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