Chapter One
1.6
Historical time line of the evolution of the department
1930’s
• Westerville’s first Municipal Park was dedicated (Alum Creek Park North) • Land acquired for future park sites (Astronaut Grove Park)
1940’s
• Land acquired for future park sites (Bicentennial Park)
1950’s
• Land acquired for future park sites (Hannah Mayne Park)
1960’s
• Westerville became a City • Land acquired for future park sites (Walnut Ridge Park, Boyer Nature Preserve, Highlands Park, Heritage Park, Ernest Cherrington Park, Alum Creek South Park) • The City hired its first full-time Parks and Recreation Director
1970’s
• • • • •
Land acquired for future park sites (Towers Park, Huber Village Park, Metzger Park) Highlands Pool constructed and dedicated Hannah Mayne Park developed Everal Barn and land was acquired Received National Recreation and Parks Association’s (NRPA) National Gold Medal “Excellence in Recreation Management” Award (1974)
1980’s
• Land acquired for future park sites (Kiwanis Picnic Park, Brooksedge Park) • Metzger Park and Kiwanis Picnic Park developed • Former water treatment plant renovated to become Senior Center
1990’s
• Land acquired for future park sites (Olde Town Park, Heritage Wetland, College Knolls Retention, Hanby Park, Hoff Woods Park, Otterbein Lake, Spring Grove North Park, Mariners Cove Wetland, County Line Woods, Westerville Sports Complex, Community Center, Springborough Open Space) • Uptown Rotary Park, Olde Town Park, Hoff Woods Park, Heritage and College Knoll Wetlands, Walnut Ridge, Westerville Bikeway were developed • Approved 1/4 percent Income Tax dedicated to parks and recreation for 20 years
2000’s
• Received NRPA’s National Gold Medal “Excellence in Recreation Management” Award (2001, 2007) • Earned National Accreditation from the Commission for Accreditation of Parks and Recreation Agencies • Community Center, Towers Park, Walnut Ridge, Spring Grove Greenway Bikeway, Alum Creek Amphitheater, Westerville Sports Complex, Walnut Ridge Path, Spring Grove North Park, Alum Creek Leisure Path, Sertoma Shelter, Heritage Park, Everal Barn and Homestead, Heritage Park Phase II, County Line Acres Bikeway, Alum Creek South Park, Metzger Park, Brooksedge Bark Park, Ohio to Erie Trail, Sunbury Road Bikeway, Presidential Oak Grove, Otterbein Lake Phase I were developed
2010’s
• • • •
Page 6
Received NRPA’s National Gold Medal “Excellence in Recreation Management” Award (2013) Earned National Re-Accreditation from the Commission for Accreditation of Parks and Recreation Agencies Millstone Creek Park, First Responders Park, Highlands Park Aquatic Center, Train Depot were developed Hoff Woods Park expansion property acquired
Westerville Parks, Recreation & Open Spaces Master Plan