Ohio Business Magazine awarded the Centerville-Washington Park District (CWPD) a 2022 Ohio Success Award. The award honors businesses, non-profits and governmental organizations’ success, focusing on the partnerships they form with each other to benefit their communities.
CWPD prides itself on cultivating meaningful partnerships that make an impact on the community. In 2022, they partnered with several notable organizations, such as Centerville Noon Optimist Club, Centerville High School National Honor Society, City of Centerville, Dayton Children’s Hospital, House of Bread, SICSA, Shoes for the Shoeless and Washington-Centerville Public Library. One partnership that should not be overlooked was with the Centerville Rotary Club.
As part of their 50th-anniversary celebration, the Centerville Rotary Club collaborated with CWPD to create a new entrance at the McEwen Road Entrance to Grant Park, a 222-acre nature park. The project included expanded parking, relocating the Rotary Memorial to a trailhead plaza, installing an ADA 0.25-mile paved path around the meadow and planting trees. Rotary contributed more than $50,000 towards the project. The club has planned service days for 2023 that will further help the area thrive.
As CWPD moved through the planning process, a 100% reimbursement grant opportunity from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) H2Ohio program became available. The $309,000 grant paid for creating a stormwater wetland at the McEwen Road entrance and accomplishing three other streambank stabilization projects outlined in the master plan.
Partnering with the Rotary Club and additional funding from ODNR changed this project from a master plan idea to a successful collaborative project.
“The Centerville-Washington Park District is proud to be recognized for our efforts to build community partnerships. We will continue to develop meaningful relationships with community stakeholders and provide programs and amenities guided by public input,” said CWPD Director Kristen Marks.
Media inquiries? Please contact Carrie Dittman, Marketing & Communications Supervisor at 937-433-5155.