At a site once used to educate Painesville children, local officials recently celebrated an investment to encourage healthy living.
Community members gathered at the city’s Huntington Park on Sept. 29 to cut the ribbon on two new sets of play equipment. Taking advantage of the warm, sunny weather, local kids began to put the new inclusive swing set and climbing wall through their paces.
According to Tiffany Wurts, a health educator with the Lake County General Health District, the park improvement was funded through the Ohio Department of Health’s Creating Health Communities program. The program is designed to promote healthy eating and active living.
The county health district and Painesville collaborated on the project, Wurts added. Painesville park officials added fall zones near the equipment.
She said that organizers presented options to students at Elm Street Elementary School, allowing them to vote for their favorite.
“It was a great way to kind of get to know everybody in the community and let neighborhood kids pick what they want to do or what they want to have in their own park,” Wurts said.
Ward 1 Painesville City Councilwoman Christine Shoop reflected on the park’s history. She said that her kids used to play there when it was the city’s Huntington Elementary School, which was demolished by 2010.
“It has morphed into a really good park,” Shoop said.
Painesville City Manager Doug Lewis said he was excited and appreciated the partnership with the health district.
“I think this is a very nice addition to the north end, this playground, and in particular how they went about determining what type of equipment to install,” Lewis said. “It’s going to be a great benefit for the children and families living in the north end of Painesville, and this is only one of the new improvements that we have planned for parks and recreation in the future.”
Huntington Park is located at 979 N. St. Clair St.
