Discover Grove City March/April 2021

GroveCity DISCOVER

MARCH/APRIL 2021

The official magazine of Grove City, Ohio

Role Model

LOOK FOR

The

INSIDE

Local professional athlete’s journey to the pros

Mike Mayers

A baseball field makeover Foster family’s story The rise of Pickleball

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GroveCity DISCOVER

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HealthScene Ohio www.HealthSceneOhio.com The Publisher welcomes contributions in the form of manuscripts, drawings, photographs or story ideas to consider for possible publication. Enclose a SASE with each submission or email bklein@cityscenemediagroup. com. Publisher does not assume responsibility for loss or damage.

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Discover Grove City is published in January, March, May, July, September, November. Subscriptions are free for households within the city limits of Grove City and Jackson Township. For advertising information or bulk purchases, call 614-572-1240.

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GroveCity DISCOVER

Volume 3, Number 5 March/April 2021

The official magazine of Grove City, Ohio

4 Calendar What’s Happening?

6 Message from Mayor Richard L. “Ike” Stage

Kids of all ages enjoy Parks and Recreation amenities out and about or at home

8 Faces

Pitching Back

Mike Mayers gives back to student athletes in the offseason

16

12

Council Briefs

12

Did You Know?

13

Development

14

Field of Dreams

16

Hometown Adventures Stringtown Road at State Route 104 was once the site of prehistoric archeological findings spanning several thousand years Passive green space remains a key element in neighborhood planning Mark Mayers leads half-million-dollar renovation of Grove City baseball field

In Focus

Ready, Set . . . Dink?

Pickleball volleys its way into Grove City

22

19

Where the Young Ones Go 10 child-friendly attractions to visit this spring

22 Student

Spotlight

Champion Sharpshooter Reece Holmes’ path to victory in 2020

24

Fostering Joy Family opens their arms to foster kids and their families

28 Living

Air b-and-beautiful Couple renovates historic home to live and list

24 @DiscoverGroveCity On the cover: Mike Mayers, photo

by Ray LaVoie Photography

www.DiscoverGroveCity.com www.DiscoverGroveCity.com

31

Checking Out

33

Luxury Living

33

Southwest Public Library director retires, welcomes new director

Real Estate Breakdown

34

Around Grove City 36 Bookmarks 37 The Source

Parks and Recreation Offerings for April and May 2021 March/April 2021 3

Calendar

For more events visit www.DiscoverGroveCity.com

What’s Happening?

Events subject to change due to health concerns.

Consult websites for details and updates.

Grove City Bunny Hunt Find 14 bunnies hidden throughout Grove City Town Center in the 2021 Grove City Bunny Hunt.

Participants and businesses are encouraged to share their Bunny Hunt photos and adventures using hashtag #gcbunnyhunt.

GroveCityOhio.gov

4 March/April 2021

March 3

American Red Cross Blood Drive 1-7 p.m.

Kingston Center 3226 Kingston Ave. www.redcrossblood.org Photo courtesy of City of Grove City

March 1-April 5

www.DiscoverGroveCity.com

March 12

American Red Cross Blood Drive 12-6 p.m.

Kingston Center 3226 Kingston Ave. www.redcrossblood.org

March 15-April 15

Best of the ‘Bus Voting www.cityscenecolumbus.org

Caption

April 4

Easter Service

March 20

Virtual Gardens at Gantz Farm Symposium 8:30 a.m. www.facebook.com/ gardensatgantzfarm

March 26

American Red Cross Blood Drive Noon-6 p.m.

Kingston Center 3226 Kingston Ave. www.redcrossblood.org

9 a.m. & 11 a.m.

Church of The Nazarene 4700 Hoover Rd. www.thenaz.church

April 7

12-6 p.m.

Kingston Center 3226 Kingston Ave. www.redcrossblood.org

May 1

1-7 p.m.

Kingston Center 3226 Kingston Ave. www.redcrossblood.org

8 a.m.-1 p.m.

Park Street Intermediate School 3205 Park St. GroveCityOhio.gov

April 9

May 1

Noon-6 p.m.

Kingston Center 3226 Kingston Ave. April 1-April 30 Grove City Area Chamber of www.redcrossblood.org Join chamber area restaurants and businesses for theme weeks during the month of April. Watch the chamber website for details. www.gcchamber.org

American Red Cross Blood Drive

American Red Cross Blood Drive

American Red Cross Blood Drive

Commerce Taste of Grove City & Business Expo

April 30

Shredding Day

Opening Day for Youth Baseball 9 a.m.

Windsor Park GroveCityOhio.gov

April 24

Operation Medicine Drop 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Jackson Township Fire Department 3650 Hoover Rd. GroveCityOhio.gov

Calendar of Events Sponsored by Franklin County Banking Center. www.VCNBfamily.com

Do you have an event you would like to submit?

Send details and photos to bklein@cityscenemediagroup.com. www.DiscoverGroveCity.com

March/April 2021 5

Kids of all ages enjoy Parks and Recreation amenities out and about or at home

M

arch 23 marks one year since Governor Mike DeWine issued Ohio’s first stay-at-home order in a move that prompted drastic changes in our daily lives. The individuals most caught off-guard by those changes were the children as it launched online schooling, harshly impacted extracurricular activities and thwarted everyday interactions with friends.

At the time, not much was widely understood about how COVID-19 is contracted or how to prevent exposure, so we took extensive steps to ensure the protection of our staff and residents.

In addition to implementing strict safety guidelines for all City operations, we found it necessary to limit access to our playgrounds and public facilities until more could be learned about how the virus spreads.

Just as outdoor play was becoming a necessity for families to stay active, with heavy hearts we wrapped caution tape around the play structures of all City parks and canceled some of our most anticipated events in order to preserve our community’s safety. Yet we quickly established alternative means of engagement in our Parks and Recreation activities.

First, we introduced a new “Stay Active and Engaged at Home” page on the City’s website, providing fun and engaging activities for families. The page includes links to online tour sites for museums and zoos, fun games and craft ideas, links to fitness challenges and workouts, among many other great activities.

The Parks and Recreation Department worked swiftly to implement greater safety protocols for in-person activities, helping youth and adult athletic teams practice and compete in the outdoor sports they love. After modifications to accommodate social distancing guidelines, park shelters were eventually reopened, and children were welcomed back to the playgrounds with posted precautionary signage and additional safety information for parents.

Throughout this last year, the Parks and Service Departments provided additional efforts to expand and improve outdoor enjoyment for the community, including

Connect with us!

6 March/April 2021

some cosmetic improvements to The Big Splash. It is our desire to open the family aquatic facility this season and once again welcome families for summer fun.

Windsor Park celebrated the soft opening of six new, dedicated pickleball courts and artificial turf was installed on two additional baseball infields, bringing the total number of turf fields to four.

Just over a mile was added to our multiuse trails along Borror Road, providing safe recreational use separate from the roadway.

Southwest Boulevard roadway improvements included widening concrete pathways on the south side of the street to aid in path connectivity along that corridor.

New neighborhood playgrounds were installed in Hoover Crossing, Hoover Run and Hennigan’s Grove subdivisions and are ready to welcome explorers of all ages.

The importance of play can be easily forgotten as we go about our daily lives, struggling to navigate a new normal that includes face coverings, hand sanitizer and online everything.

However, one point was certainly confirmed over the last year – play is an essential component of overall health for ourselves and our families.

I urge you to find the “child” in yourself by taking advantage of the wonderful offerings available through our Parks and Recreation Department. Visit our Parks and Recreation webpage and make plans to explore our parks, trails and playgrounds.

Mayor Richard L. “Ike” Stage Find information on all the activities and amenities mentioned here in The Source section of Discover Grove City magazine or by clicking the Parks and Recreation tab of the City’s website at www.GroveCityOhio.gov. Directly access the Remain Active & Engaged During Stay-at-Home page at bit.ly/GCHomeSource.

Subscribe to our eNewsletter — From the Grove — at GroveCityOhio.gov.

We’re Social

@GroveCityOhio www.DiscoverGroveCity.com

www.DiscoverGroveCity.com

March/April 2021 7

Faces

By Brandon Klein

Pitching

Photo by Ray LaVoie Photography

Mike Mayers gives back to student athletes in the offseason

8 March/April 2021

www.DiscoverGroveCity.com

Back F

or Mike Mayers, Grove City is home.

“It still has the family, small-town feel,” says the 2010 Grove City High School graduate and professional Major League Baseball player.

Mayers returns to the city during the offseason, not only to reconnect with friends and family but to inspire the next generation of athletes.

www.DiscoverGroveCity.com

March/April 2021 9

“Everybody has their own path,” he says. “Trust in the fact that you’re going to have your own path to success even if it’s not at the time you want it to happen.” ther, Mark Mayers, who you can read more about on page 18.

“He loves to compete,” Mark says. “Everything is a competition for him.”

Mayers says playing baseball professionally didn’t become a serious reality until his junior year when he started getting offers from colleges and universities. In the same year, Mayers had a 10-1 record with 1.80 earned run average. He

Photos by Ray LaVoie Photography

He says he finds inspiration from fellow players who “use their platform to make the world a better place (through charitable work),” such as Adam Wainwright, who pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals last season.

Mayers says “there’s no better place than Grove City” to use his own platform and brand to provide lessons and work out with local student athletes in tandem with his former coach Ryan Alexander, head baseball coach at GCHS. And while this personal touch makes an impact on the students, it also keeps Mayers sharp for his own career.

“Our guys work beside him, (and have worked) with him for the last five to six years of his professional career,” Alexander says.

When Mayers was a GCHS athlete, playing football, baseball and basketball, he says he grew through observing his own role models when they were on the field or court. Now, GCHS athletes have the unique opportunity to observe Mayers up close, ask him questions or simply follow his example.

With his competitive and driven nature, it’s no surprise Mayers made it to the pros. In high school, June was his favorite month because he was active in all three sports and got to travel with his family throughout Ohio, says Mayers’ fa-

Mike Mayers between his father, Mark, right, and his mother, Jayne Mayers.

10 March/April 2021

www.DiscoverGroveCity.com

siveness of social media, this is good advice for students who find themselves struggling to live up to an image.

“Everybody has their own path,” he says. “Trust in the fact that you’re going to have your own path to success even if it’s not at the time you want it to happen.”

Alexander says “it’s been an awesome opportunity” for his athletes to see up close how Mayers handles himself and his career whenever he visits in the offseason. Mayers’ presence provides that light at the end of the tunnel for student athletes who aspire to play professionally, he adds.

Alexander’s athletes often send out group messages on social media to alert each other whenever Mayers is pitching.

“Our guys live and die while watching his pitches,” Alexander says. “He absolutely loves Grove City. … He definitely wants to help our guys out as much as possible, he definitely wants to continue that relationship.”

During the regular season, Mayers spends most of his time traveling to different cities with his teammates. He’s amazed by how much Grove City has changed when he comes back for the offseason.

“Construction on (Interstate) 71 is different every time I come back,” Mayers says. “The coolest part of Grove City is that it has grown and (is) not that small farm town when I was growing up.”

Brandon Klein is an editor. Feedback welcome at bklein@ cityscenemediagroup.com.

earned first team all-state honors while leading the 2009 Grove City team that compiled a 20-8 record and secured the 2009 sectional championships.

Scouts from top programs attended nearly every game Mayers pitched in his senior year, says Alexander, who coached Mayers in all three sports.

“So he knows how to handle pressure at an early age as well,” he says.

Mayers signed with the University of Mississippi’s Ole Miss Rebels baseball team to compete in the SEC. In 2013, the St. Louis Cardinals selected him in the third round of the draft, beginning his career as a professional athlete.

After rotating through multiple minor league teams, Mayers found success as a relief pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels in 2019.

“For me it was a change of scenery,” Mayers says. “I’m in a good place to be in Los Angeles. … My job is to continue to grow and build on the confidence that I gained last year.”

Mayers’ advice to student athletes is to be careful not to compare themselves to each other. With the pervawww.DiscoverGroveCity.com

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Council Briefs Hometown Adventures

W

hen our son was a baby, my husband Allen and I started shopping in the Columbus suburbs in search of the perfect place to raise our family. We probably each had our own list of reasons for choosing Grove City, but we now describe the deciding factor as, “It just felt right.”

We found Grove City to be a friendly community, and it seemed to embody the saying, “Small towns are like big families.”

What we didn’t know at the time was that Grove City would live up to and exceed our expectations as a familyfriendly town. We took advantage of programming at Southwest Public Libraries, Parks and Recreation, youth sports leagues and Little Theatre Off Broadway.

We went to preschool at the Big Red Barn in Gantz Park; picnicked in the parks; learned how to play soccer,

baseball, basketball and tennis; went swimming with our friends at The Big Splash; took dance and tumbling classes; painted pottery at Coffee Break; and roller skated at Skate America.

Fast forward to today, our “children” are now 29 and 26. I doubt anyone would still call Grove City a small town, but somehow we seem to have retained the hometown feeling that many of us love.

As we have grown, our recreational opportunities for families have multiplied. I think it’s amazing that many of the same adventures can be had by the littles of 2021, and even better that the options are now endless as new Parks and Recreation classes are added with each passing season.

Add Scioto Grove Metro Park to the list of amenities, not to mention the many businesses with a recreational or experiential focus.

Grove City Council members, (clockwise, starting top left): Roby Schottke, Ward 4; Christine Houk, Council President, Ward 3; Ted Berry, Ward 1; Aaron Schlabach, At-Large and Randy Holt, Ward 2.

As we begin to see signs of spring, it’s the ideal time to identify the “adventures yet to be had” by your family. Take it from this empty nester, you won’t regret it.

Christine Houk President, Council Member, Ward 3

Did You Know?

Stringtown Road at State Route 104 was once the site of prehistoric archaeological findings spanning several thousand years.

I

n 1952, Grove City residents and archaeology enthusiasts Ernest and Dorothy Good discovered their most significant site of prehistoric artifacts. What became known as the Stringtown Site of Prehistoric Indian Encampments was situated mostly where Manheim Ohio auto auction is now located.

At the time of their find, the land was commercially undeveloped and had not been farmed in several seasons, which made for easy surface hunting of artifacts. Throughout nearly 20 years of exploration at the site, the Goods enlisted the assistance of fellow enthusiasts and archaeologists who ultimately found hundreds of artifacts dating from 6000 B.C. to 500 A.D.

12 March/April 2021

Documented sketches and photos of Stringtown Points found at the Stringtown archaeological site in the early 1960s.

The most notable finding was a style of projectile point, commonly called an arrowhead, not previously found or categorized.

Upon examination by archaeological curators of the Ohio Historical Society, the points were found to be unique across all known archaeological sites and was thus named the Stringtown Point. The projectile points have since been found at other archeological sites in the upper Ohio River basin, but none with such great concentration as in Grove City.

In addition to projectile points, the Stringtown Site yielded hundreds of other artifacts including celts, stone axe heads likely used for felling trees; hammerstones; pitted milling stones; rare prism-shaped stones for atlatl, a lever that propelled arrows further and faster; clay tobacco pipes and more. www.DiscoverGroveCity.com

By Kyle Rauch As the weather warms and we begin to emerge from our winter solitude, outdoor activities are at the forefront of our minds. The fact of the matter is, the past year has impacted us all in many ways and our children had to be the most adaptive. From daycare closures to blended learning, we have witnessed our children doing their best to adjust to the ever-changing conditions of daily life.

Throughout all of the changes, the desire to support our youth’s physical and mental well-being is a need that has never diminished. With all of this in mind, the call to venture outside increases as the sun shines brighter.

Grove City was named after the groves of trees found throughout the area, placing an importance on green space from inception. Development

with green space in mind has continued and remains prominent in recent projects.

Trail connectivity and park expansion is highlighted through area development projects, including the new Trail View Run and Farmstead developments. Both projects are designed with families in mind, including dedicated open space to create a larger park network, eventually connecting to the existing Indian Trails Park.

The trail connectivity of these projects is part of a city-wide goal to provide safe trail access across the region. Bicycle and pedestrian transportation, as well as expanded recreational opportunities, are the driving forces behind planning.

Land in the Farmstead development is being dedicated for an eventual new elementary school. Incorporating trail

Current and planned mutli-use paths in southeast Grove City. www.DiscoverGroveCity.com

Photo courtesy of Tricia Zelenak

Development – Passive green space remains a key element in neighborhood planning

Grove City residents Tricia Zelenak and her daughter Peyton enjoy a brisk bike ride along one of the city’s multi-use paths.

connectivity into the plan ensures safe access for students and families walking or biking to and from the school. These area trails will eventually connect to State Route 104, creating safe and direct access from neighborhoods to Scioto Grove Metro Park.

Although parks, trails and open spaces benefit the City through quantifiable results like increased property value and tourism, perhaps the most valuable advantage is the immeasurable effect on our children. It is no secret that regular physical activity is associated with lower health risks while producing key psychological benefits.

In a time when even our youngest citizens have felt the stress and uncertainty surrounding them, the benefits of available outdoor space cannot be more important. Developing an environment that provides these vital aspects is motivation behind most design decisions. The hope for the future is that residents of all ages have opportunity and access to safe and rewarding outdoor options that will benefit them well into the future.

Kyle Rauch is the Development Director for the City of Grove City.

March/April 2021 13

Mark Mayers, Shayne Yokum and Grove CIty baseball coach Ryan Alexander

Field of Dreams

By Brandon Klein

G

rove City High School head baseball coach Ryan Alexander never misses an opportunity to heap praise on Mark Mayers’ contributions to the South-Western City School District and Grove City High School.

“In my 20 years in this city, there isn’t a guy that works harder for all kids than Mark Mayers,” Alexander says.

“We could write a book on this guy.”

14 March/April 2021

A possible chapter of Mayers’ story could include his efforts to renovate the GCHS baseball field. The baseball program has grown to be a staple of the high school since the school opened in 1970.

Mayers led efforts to raise half a million dollars for the project. From August to December last year, he worked with Shayne Yokum of Yokum Contracting to replace the infield with artificial turf, expand seating, bring new seating closer to the field and replace the dugouts.

“We’re extremely thankful to the community for the donations,” says

Bryan O’Shea, principal of Grove City High School.

He adds that the artificial turf will prevent the disruption of scheduled games by typical rainy weather in spring as was common in previous years.

“It absolutely will be the best field in central Ohio if not the state of Ohio,” Alexander says. “Mark is a continual support system of our Grove City baseball program.”

That fact is notable considering Mayers’ son, Mike Mayers, a professional baseball player and this issue of Discover Grove City’s cover subject, graduated from Grove City High School in 2010. www.DiscoverGroveCity.com

Photo by Ray LaVoie Photography

Mark Mayers leads half-million-dollar renovation of Grove City baseball field

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“It all looks amazing,” Mike says.

“Dad and Shayne did an incredible job. … I think the coolest part (of the renovation) is that every Grove City baseball alumnus is responsible for building that.”

When talk of replacing the infield with turf came up, Alexander says Mayers wanted to do more and expanded the scope of the project by redoing the dugouts and expanding the seating.

“Mark was the visionary behind the whole project,” Yokum says.

The new turf would have been disturbed if the school, team and parents wanted to replace or improve other parts of the facility later on, Mayers says, so it was better to tackle everything at once.

“You have to do them hand in hand,” he says.

He adds that he enjoys being involved with the process that makes Grove City’s baseball program a success.

“Parents are supportive and willing to do the work,” he says.

With the original layout, parents and fans were seated 65 feet away from the game, but the expanded seating is now only 40 feet away, bringing spectators closer to the action. The seating section will also have a designated place for scouts, away from players’ families, giving them space to do their jobs, he adds.

“We’re increasing the experience not only for the players but for the people coming out to the game,” Mayers says. “We want those people to be part of the game just like the kids are.”

Due to the pandemic, the 2020 season was canceled, but Alexander says there are plans as of January to have a season this year.

“We’re hoping to see an end to COVID, a full season to enjoy,” he says. “Our guys are anxious to get back to work.”

Brandon Klein is an editor.

Feedback welcomed at bklein@ cityscenemediagroup.com. www.DiscoverGroveCity.com

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InFocus

By Sarah Robinson

Ready, Set … Dink?

Pickleball volleys its way into Grove City

D

ink, volley, blast and get out of the kitchen!

Unless you’re a pickleball player, those words sound like gibberish. However, pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in America, so that terminology won’t sound so outlandish for long.

Pickleball came to Grove City in 2019, with a few residents gathering on the Windsor Park tennis courts, drawing pickleball court lines in chalk and setting up portable nets so they could play.

“For a while, they played that way.

Every time when they came out, they would have to get the nets out of their car and set them up. And it was really a hassle,” says Bob Mazzola, Grove City resident and pickleball player. “So that’s about the time I got involved. I said, ‘Well, jeez, guys, we should have permanent courts here.’”

Mazzola wrote a letter to the mayor petitioning for pickleball courts, and Mayor Ike Stage passed the letter on to the Grove City Parks and Recreation Department where it fell into the

Local pickleball players: In the back, Missy Parr, left, Dortha Ford, Su Pappas, Tammie Tatera and Lisa Perkins. In the middle, Heidi Arthur, left, and Sue Swisher. In the front, Teri Nye, left, and Anita McFann.

16 March/April 2021

hands of Kim Conrad, director of the department.

“It was something that (the city) wanted,” she says, “but having the driving force of folks behind us really helped to bring the pickleball courts to the community.”

Grove City pickleball players advocated for their sport, showing up to city council meetings, finding funding and drawing up plans to share with the parks department. Sure enough, the 2020 budget approved the pickleball courts and by fall, players had a place of their own.

“Oct. 17, we opened the courts.

Six beautiful outdoor pickleball courts, the best in the area,” says Mazzola.

“Each court is individually fenced. Before, on the tennis courts, if someone missed a shot, you’d have to run over three courts to get the ball, but in these fenced-in courts, you never walk more than a couple of feet. So, you’re spending more time playing and the courts are beautiful.”

The pickleball community continues to grow, from the original few playwww.DiscoverGroveCity.com

Photos courtesy of Bob Mazzola

Grove City resident Bob Mazzola and Mayor Ike Stage inspect the new pickleball courts.

The groundbreaking of the new pickleball courts, which opened in fall 2020.

Easter

ers to now more than 300 people who ers range in ages from 10 years old to “We are fortunate to have (young have joined the Grove City Pickleball over 80. people) join us as often as they can,” Community Facebook page. People’s love for the sport was especially evident this winter when the courts were constantly full of players despite chilly CELEBRATE temperatures.

“I was out there in November. It was probably in the 40s and I walked around Windsor Park,” says Mazzola.

“Nobody in the baseball field. Nobody in the tennis courts. Nobody in the basketball area. But the pickleball courts – there were 30 people at the pickleball courts!”

The city noticed the growing community involvement in the once littleknown sport and has big plans for their pickleball players, including new outdoor lighting fixtures for the courts which were approved in the 2021 budget.

“We’re hoping that this is the first GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE of several pickleball areas in the city,” APRIL 2, 2021 says Conrad.

AT THE NAZ CHURCH

Play Nice

One of the reasons pickleball is gaining such swift popularity as a sport is that it’s easy to pick up, it doesn’t require expensive equipment and anyone can learn to play.

“It’s really not easy to play, but it’s easy to pick up and it doesn’t cost a lot of money,” says Conrad. “I think it’s a good source of fitness for a lot of people.

And people really seem to enjoy it.”

“Anybody can do it,” adds Mazzola. “If you’re very skilled or not, you can have fun doing it. It’s like a mix between ping pong and tennis. But if you can play ping pong, you can play pickleball.”

The Grove City pickleball group is proof that anybody can do it – the playwww.DiscoverGroveCity.com

EASTER SUNDAY APRIL 4, 2021 9AM & 11AM LEARN MORE AT THENAZ.CHURCH/EASTER 4770 HOOVER RD., GROVE CITY, OH 43123 614.875.2551 INFO@THENAZ.CHURCH

March/April 2021 17

Photos courtesy of Bob Mazzola

says James Hastrich, a pickleball player.

“I admire everyone in our group for welcoming them all and not discriminating them because of their age and size.”

From brand new players to those with years of experience, the Grove City pickleball players will extend their paddles to anyone.

“No matter your (skill) level, there are people in Grove City willing to be your partner and help you with your game,” says Meredith Ervin, another community pickleball player.

The community of players is not only active on the courts, but in each other’s lives. Mazzola says players took extra care when the pandemic hit, wearing gloves to play, keeping the court gates open to minimize contact and, of course, maintaining social distance.

The pandemic certainly did little to damper people’s passion for pickleball, and Mazzola says he knew players who brought shovels to the courts in December when it snowed.

“It’s a real hearty group,” says Mazzola.

Perhaps the most remarkable thing about the pickleball preoccupation, though, is the sense of community that grew around it.

James Hastrich teaching Lana Castle pickleball.

“Here, everyone is welcome,” says Mazzola. “It doesn’t matter what you know, if you’re male or female or old or young. If you want to play, come out and have a good time with us.”

Sarah Robinson is a contributing editor.

Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com.

18 March/April 2021

www.DiscoverGroveCity.com

Where the Young Ones Go 10 child-friendly attractions to visit this spring

By Sanaya Attari

S

pring has finally arrived, and that means it’s time to open doors and windows and get out of the house.

Luckily, Grove City has tons of family-friendly activities to let you feel less cooped up yet still safe – just don’t forget your mask. Check out these nearby kid-friendly attractions:

Windsor Park The Dream Field Playground at Windsor Park isn’t your average park. It was designed for children of all ages, and specifically for children of all abilities. All Grove City area parks are currently open and available to the public, so stretch those legs and breathe the fresh air!

Photos courtesy of each location

Pottery, ceramics, painting and art classes are all available at Coffee Break Pottery. Watch the Facebook page to see when you can score a take and make at home kit to keep the kids occupied during lockdown. Take the crafts outside and try some plein air art! While Coffee Break Pottery’s store is temporarily closed to visitors, it plans to reopen soon.

Windsor Park www.DiscoverGroveCity.com

Serene nature trails and a space-themed all-accessible playground for your kids makes a destination in itself. With 110 acres, eight softball diamonds and a sledding hill that you hopefully won’t get to use until next winter, this is a stand-out Grove City park. The park also features a splash pad.

BONUS: Don’t miss Fryer Flicks on the Hill at Fryer Park this summer where you can catch a family-friendly outdoor movie.

Photos courtesy of each location

Coffee Break Pottery

Fryer Park March/April 2021 19

Little Theatre Off Broadway

Hoping to enjoy some culture and performing artistry?

With six tremendous shows per season, Little Theatre Putt N Play Family Fun Center is perfect for every Off Broadway is a must-see in Grove City’s historic town kid. Putt N Play is home to an 18-hole miniature golf course, center. Theater shows have temporarily gone virtual, so you automated batting cages and even an arcade equipped with can buy tickets and watch the troupe’s next few shows from games of all kinds. the comfort of your own home. Make a night of it by dressing up and serving mocktails for the kiddos!

Putt N Play Family Fun Center

Eyecare for the whole family: At Moses - Mouser and Associates, we are here for our patients every step of the way. From contact lens fittings and new glasses, to the latest in cataract surgery technology, it is our goal to improve both the vision and quality of our patients’ lives.

MosesMouserEye.com • 1600 Gateway Circle • Grove City, OH 43123 • 614-756-6605 20 March/April 2021

www.DiscoverGroveCity.com

Skylarks Toys & Comics

Bonus summer events for the whole family to look forward to: Much to the excitement of everyone here in Grove City, the Big Splash is planned to reopen Saturday, May 29. This incredible pool features gigantic slides, a fun water park, fountains, aquatic climbing walls and interactive water toys for the little one to splash in.

Skylarks Toys & Comics is Grove City’s home for a wide variety of collectible toys and pop culture items for those days when you just want to nerd-out as a family.

Whether your kid is into Star Wars or you need to pick up a board game for family game night, Skylarks is the spot.

If you want to get active on a gray or rainy day, check out Skate America, a family-friendly fun center with a roller-skating rink and arcade. It is scheduled to reopen June 19, so you can book a COVID-compliant party or register for skating lessons.

Trapper John’s Canoe Livery A refreshing canoe or kayak trip on the scenic Big Darby Creek starting at Trapper John’s Canoe Livery turns an average day into an adventure on the water. Make sure to check out the Trapper John’s COVID-19 information page before you go, created to ensure maximum safety for you and your family.

Photos courtesy of each location

Big Bounce is an indoor trampoline park, the perfect destination for fun and fitness for kids with high energy. Big Bounce has special times for preschoolers, so you don’t have to worry about your little ones while they jump.

Sanaya Attari is an editorial assistant. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com.

Big Bounce www.DiscoverGroveCity.com

March/April 2021 21

Student Spotlight

By Sanaya Attari

Champion Trapshooter Reece Holmes’ path to victory in 2020 Holmes is a four-time Academics, Integrity, Marksmanship (AIM) All-State Team winner, a two-time All-Ohio Team (Ohio State Trapshooting Association) winner, a two-time All-Zone Team winner, a 2020 Ohio State Shoot Junior High Overall Champion and an AIM Grand National Doubles Class Champion, among others.

“Reece has shot in Florida, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee and has won some big events,” says Holmes’ father, Wesley Holmes. “Plus, he’s had some local sponsors with some of the businesses here in Grove City. They’ve supported him along the way as far as entry fees and paying for the supplies are concerned. The local people really step up and take care of him in that way.”

Trapshooting has taught Holmes to be more responsible, focused, dedicated and patient, he says. It’s taught him to be more vigilant about his safety and that of others around him.

He enjoys interacting with the younger shooters and those new to the sport, and is always willing to lend some advice. He says he enjoys meeting new people while traveling

N

Photos courtesy of Wesley Holmes

ot every athlete throws a ball or uses a glove. Reece Holmes, for instance, prefers something a little more explosive. The 19-year-old Grove City High School graduate is a 2020 trapshooting champion.

“I’ve wanted to do (trapshooting) since I was little, and somebody in our family is a really good trapshooter so he taught me the basics of how to shoot,” says Holmes, who has been actively competing since 2014.

Trapshooting is a sport in which athletes fire at a clay target, which is launched into the air to simulate the flight of a pigeon fleeing from a hunter, using a shotgun. It originated in England and is an Olympic sport.

22 March/April 2021

www.DiscoverGroveCity.com

for competitions, and in his spare time “I really learned how to work with a he trades the clay pigeons for pheasants bunch of people,” says Holmes. “When and likes to hunt. you shoot you get to work with your team and stay focused on one thing. On the other hand, when you’re at a comFamily Focus petition, you have to stay focused to Many people have played a vital role make sure you’ve got all your bearings in helping Holmes get to where he is to- together.” day, such as his youth trapshooting team Holmes’ most important mentor, coach Eric Cunningham and champion however, is his dad. trapshooter Steve Corwin who served as “It makes me very proud, seeing a mentor to him. His mentors also in- him succeed every step of the way,” clude family members, like his grandfa- says Wesley. “It’s a sport that I get to ther’s cousin Dale Ranke. enjoy with him. I can shoot with him, it’s something that we can do for the

rest of our lives together. And just coaching him along the way brings a lot of pride and enjoyment by watching him succeed at a sport that means so much to him.”

Sanaya Attari is an editorial assistant.

Feedback welcome at feedback@ cityscenemediagroup.com.

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March/April 2021 23

Fostering Joy

Kaitlynn and John Gibson with the Gibson family’s first foster sibling. Family requested to not identify the child 24 March/April 2021

www.DiscoverGroveCity.com

Photos courtesy of Leah Gibson

Photos?

Family opens their arms to foster kids and their families

By Sarah Robinson

T

he Gibsons were made to be a foster family. Leah and her husband John have been fostering for six years, welcoming more than 30 children into their home with open arms and open hearts.

It all started when the couple wanted to have another child of their own, adding a fourth child to the Gibson clan.

“We had discussed possibly having more children, but after about a year or two, it never happened,” says Gibson. “I thought, ‘Maybe God has other plans for us.’”

She began researching how to become a foster parent, requesting informational packets from multiple

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Serving safely • Serving innovatively • Visit swpl.org for updates Grove City Library | 3959 Broadway | Grove City, 43123 | 614-875-6716 Westland Area Library | 4740 W. Broad St. | Columbus, 43228 | 614-878-1301 Kaitlynn and John Gibson www.DiscoverGroveCity.com

March/April 2021 25

Photos courtesy of Leah Gibson

The Gibsons include all their kids in everything the family does.

organizations and diving deep into the internet. Once Gibson realized how serious she was, she approached John with her idea.

“I handed him one of the packets, and he was like, ‘What is this?’ And I said fostering,” says Gibson. “He was like, ‘No way! I’ve been talking with one of my friends at work, he and his wife do this, and we’ve been talking about this for a while.’ So that was like our calling.”

As the Gibsons soon learned, becoming foster parents isn’t easy. Parents are required to complete a minimum of 60 hours of in-person training, which can take months to complete. And they had to get their kids prepared, too.

“When we talked about fostering, we decided to do it as a family,” says Gibson. “So, because the kids obviously couldn’t go to training with us, every time we would come home from a training we would go over it with them.”

Trainings included tough topics like the difficult situations foster kids may have experienced before being placed with a foster family. Despite the heaviness of the topics, Gibson knew it was important for her kids to understand what someone may be going through.

“I just felt like if we were going to bring children in the home, it would be fun for (my kids), right? But it’s a little bit more in depth than that,” says Gibson. “I really wanted them to try to understand some of the trauma, like if we got a baby that was born addicted and just cried all the time. I really wanted them to try to understand these things.”

The Gibsons’ three children, Angel, 21; Kaitlynn, 16; and John, 12 were ready to open their arms to foster sib26 March/April 2021

lings. The Gibsons say they have each grown through the experience.

“They’ve been very helpful, encouraging and welcoming of every child,” says Gibson. “They’ve always been very caring of others and their feelings, but I feel like (fostering) really made them aware of other situations. Life situations.”

The Gibsons have been supported by the Grove City community despite living outside city limits. Grove City Christian School (GCCS), where the Gibson kids attend school, is an incredible backbone of support.

“Everyone has always been extremely supportive. GCCS is so welcoming of all the babies. When the babies have gone home, it can be really tough on us, and they’ve made it a point to reach out to us and the kids, even at school,” says Gibson. “It’s been really nice, like having a second family.”

What makes the Gibsons stand out as a foster family is their support for the kids they foster.

“I advocate for my kids,” says Gibson. “That’s what I’m here to do. I’m their only voice right now.”

The Gibsons go above and beyond in caring for their foster children’s families, too. Gibson says the end goal of fostering is to reunite families. In the meantime, she does what she can to make the separation easier on everyone.

“From the beginning, I’ve been a pretty big supporter of the bio parents.

I’ve made an effort to do extra FaceTimes, I’ve had a couple that I even invited over to Thanksgiving, we’ve done family birthday parties, that kind of stuff,” says Gibson. “We just want (the

parents) to come and enjoy that time with (their kids).”

It’s not just about supporting the parents’ relationship with their child, though. Oftentimes, the parents need support of their own, too.

“I could not function every single day without my kids, you know?” she says, “and so, if I can help in any way, make their day to day easier, whether it’s just being clean or going to counseling, I’ve taken one parent to a job interview, whatever I can do to help them, I will.”

The Gibsons are currently fostering three kids: an 18-month-old girl and 20-month-old boy, both of whom they’ve fostered since birth, and a 17-year-old girl. Gibson is ready to welcome more kids to the fold.

“We’re actually in the process of building a bigger home, because I want a houseful,” she says. “I just want to be able to help as many kids as we can for as long as we can.”

At the end of the day, beyond the challenges, hard work and how difficult it is to say goodbye to a child they’ve fostered, the Gibsons find joy and reward in their calling.

“The most rewarding thing is being able to know that we are positively impacting each child that we get to welcome into our home,” says Gibson. “If we have provided love and, of course, the basic necessities, but also if we’ve been able to make them smile and happy and laugh on a daily basis, then I know we’re doing it right.”

Sarah Robinson is a contributing editor. Feedback welcome at feedback@ cityscenemediagroup.com. www.DiscoverGroveCity.com

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cityscenecolumbus.com March/April 2021 27

Living

By Mallory Arnold

Air b-and-beautiful Couple renovates historic home to live and list

J

ade Sanders and her husband John spent most of 2020 with one foot in Texas and one in Grove City.

In fact, this Discover Grove City interview took place over the phone while she, John, and sons Easton and Beckham were six hours into the long trip to Houston.

Sanders’ sister lives in Grove City but the rest of her family is in Texas, which is why they split the year in two places. And when the family is away from the Buckeye state, they make sure their historic Park Street home is taken care of – by putting it on Airbnb.

After

Before

Photos courtesy of Jade and John Sanders

The Sanders family moved into the 1931 house about a year ago and have been renovating from the get-go. They’re no strangers to the process, though; the Sanders own their own renovation company JCS Properties & Management and have renovated about 75 homes. So, why not take on their own home?

“We fell in love with the area around Park Street,” she says. “We really like older houses with a lot of character to them.”

Sanders kept a lot of the exposed brick and maintained structural pieces original to the house. The floors are genuine, though refinished.

“All the hardwood is original,” Sanders says, “though they’re not perfect. There are holes and cracks, but you just don’t see hardwood floors made the same way these days. We’ve also kept this big trim that you don’t find in modern houses.”

There are a lot of ups and downs when it comes to renovating, especially when your house is older. But one of the biggest issues was apparent very early in the project. The house had no heating 28 March/April 2021

www.DiscoverGroveCity.com

Photos courtesy of Jade and John Sanders

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of Grove City March/April 2021 29

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or air conditioning systems, so Sanders and her husband took on the task of installing the units.

Luckily, the Sanders had most of the renovations done before COVID-19 hit. What affected them most was the lack of Airbnb guests during the pandemic.

“When we’re in Texas, there’s almost always someone using our house as an Airbnb,” Sanders says, “but the amount definitely decreased. However, we did have a few people who needed the house as a necessity. One couple stayed there for quite a long time because they had moved there for the time being to help their elderly parents.”

Sanders adds that she’s grateful they had most of the renovations completed prior to COVID-19, as she knows that the prices of materials have spiked considerably.

As for the couple’s favorite part of the house, she says they loved doing the kitchen. However, the most enticing aspect to them was the location.

“We like the proximity to downtown,” she says. “I can put the kids in the stroller and take them to the library and we make trips to Capital City Cakes a few times a week. We just love being close enough to support our local businesses around town.”

Mallory Arnold is an associate editor.

Feedback welcome at marnold@ cityscenemediagroup.com.

30 March/April 2021

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LOOK FOR

The

INSIDE

• The Official Magazine of Grove City, Ohio • Mailed to more than 20,000 homes in Grove City and Jackson Township • Mailed to EVERY Grove City Business • Community Calendar • Award-winning design and Editorial • The Source exclusively found in every issue

Contact Rocco Falleti at rfalleti@ cityscenecolumbus.com or 614-572-1257 www.DiscoverGroveCity.com

Checking Out Southwest Public Library director retires, welcomes new director

By Sarah Robinson

A

Photos courtesy of Southwest Public Libraries

fter 18 years of service to the library as director and another 16 as treasurer, Mark Shaw is hanging up his hat and stepping into retirement.

As the fifth appointed director of the Southwest Public Libraries, Shaw holds the title of longest running library director, followed by his predecessor, Frances Black, with 14 years of service.

With 35 years with the library under his belt, Shaw has certainly seen the city and community change and grow since he took the job in the mid ‘80s.

“Now, of course, it has become a booming suburb of Columbus,” he says.

During his tenure as director, Shaw has seen times of success and times of difficulty. The library’s funding is dependent on Ohio’s economy, he says, which was one of the greatest challenges for him as director.

“There have been great moments and not so great moments during this time,” he says. “Passing a levy for the first time in 2010 was a major success

2019 Westland Youth Services dedication www.DiscoverGroveCity.com

Mark Shaw

for us and helped to stabilize funding.

And that levy made it possible for us to negotiate with the City of Grove City to build a new Grove City Library, which was opened in 2016.”

The new library has more than triple the space of the old building, going from 15,000 square feet to more than 50,000. The relationship between

the city and the library was intrinsic to the success of the new library, and Shaw tips his hat to city officials with whom he collaborated to make the new library a possibility.

“Our collaboration and partnership with the City of Grove City has to be at the top of the list for successes for the library,” he says. “Mayor Ike Stage and City Administrator Chuck Boso worked tirelessly over several years to make this a possibility and without them, the new library on Broadway would not have been possible.”

Leaving the library is bittersweet, especially as Shaw takes his leave while COVID-19 is still a major concern.

“I spent my entire career striving to make the library a community center and a place to hang out and the pandemic has upended all that,” he says. “It will be great when things can get back to a more normal level operation and we can welcome patrons back into their library.”

In retirement, Shaw plans to be one of those patrons who still frequents his old haunt.

“I live just down the street from the Grove City Library, and I plan on using it a lot as a patron,” he says. “I’m a history buff, especially of the American Civil War and World War II, so I have a lot of reading to catch up on in those areas.”

Ready to step into the newly vacated role of director is Meredith Wickham, an experienced library director in her own right from Mississippi.

“Meredith is a seasoned professional who will lead us into the future,” says the SPL board of trustees in a press release. “She is a fierce advocate for public libraries in the areas of youth literacy, staff development and equity.

She also has extensive experience lobbying for funding in her state, among other talents.”

While SPL is excited to welcome Wickham and follow her lead as she March/April 2021 31

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32 March/April 2021

takes the library to new heights, the library community is sad to see Shaw go.

“We are very grateful to Mark for his many years of service to SPL,” says Joanna Morehart, communications manager for the library.

Shaw is ready to hand the reins to Wickham and looks forward to witnessing the library’s continued success.

“After having spent 35 years with

Southwest Public Libraries, I wish nothing but the best for its future,” he says. “Grove City has an incredibly bright future ahead of it and I want to see the library successfully move ahead with the city.”

Sarah Robinson is a contributing editor. Feedback welcome at feedback@ cityscenemediagroup.com. www.DiscoverGroveCity.com

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Showcase your home listings to every homeowner in Grove City. Your listings will also appear in the digital edition of the magazine, hosted on the Discover Grove City home page: www.discovergrovecity.com Contact Rocco Falleti today for more information: rfalleti@cityscenecolumbus.com 614-572-1257 www.DiscoverGroveCity.com

March/April 2021 33

Around Grove City Pictures of people and pets in Grove City!

A motley collection of residents with their furry friends, dressed up in costume and more!

34 March/April 2021

www.DiscoverGroveCity.com

Professional Photographer Digital files for your use Credit Cards,Venmo and PayPal Accepted

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I love being here to help in a community where people are making a difference every day. Thank you for all you do.

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March/April 2021 35

Bookmarks

Recommendations from Southwest Public Libraries — Grove City Library

SPL remains dedicated to serving our community safely and responsibly. Please visit swpl.org or SPL’s Facebook page for current library services, hours, programming and news.

Start them young! Foster a lifelong love of reading and learning in your child from a young age. Check out these recommended titles from Youth Services staff at Grove City Library.

Picture books

Juvenile fiction

When Sadness is at Your Door

by Eva Eland A gentle, thoughtful book about what to do when sadness stops by. A wonderful story to help children deal with their emotions.

Dress Coded

by Carrie Firestone Eighth-grade Molly starts a podcast to protest unfair enforcement of the school dress code and starts a rebellion that changes everything.

One voice becomes many for positive change.

Ways to Make Sunshine

by Renée Watson Fourth-grade Ryan always tries to see the positives in life, from being a girl with a boy’s name to moving. As she faces challenges and changes, Ryan is determined to be the best and see the best in everyone.

Juvenile nonfiction

Hands Up!

by Breanna J. McDaniel, illustrated by Shane W. Evans An exploration of love, joy and triumph. Raise your hands if you’ll love this book!

Kate Warne, Pinkerton Detective (picture book biography)

by Marissa Moss, illustrated

by April Chu This biography reads like a novel and is illustrated like a picture book.

Kate Warne was America’s first female detective and a key agent for Allan Pinkerton. Kate was involved in many famous cases including smuggling Abraham Lincoln into Washington D.C. for his inauguration to prevent an assassination attempt.

Looking for more inspiration? Give us a call or visit the library’s website www.swpl.org and explore NoveList Plus and NoveList K-8 Plus, online reader’s advisories for both fiction and nonfiction. Search by genre, subject, mood, read-alikes and more. Access under the “Resources” tab, “Books & Literature” section.

36 March/April 2021

Best Friends (juvenile graphic novel)

by Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham For fans of Raina Telgemeier, this juvenile graphic novel explores the ups and downs of friendships between middle school girls.

Teen fiction

How We Got to the Moon: The People, Technology, and Daring Feats of Science Behind Humanity’s Greatest Adventure

by John Rocco An incredibly detailed, stunning book of the steps leading up to the moon landing. Packed with amazing illustrations and fascinating information, this is the perfect book for anybody interested in space or science.

Dangerous Alliance

by Jennieke Cohen If you’re a fan of Jane Austen, you’ll love following the adventures of Lady Victoria Aston, who must find a husband to save her family’s fortune.

Grove City Library 3959 Broadway

Library hours are subject to change due to health concerns. Visit www.swpl.org for more information. @SPLFranklinCountyOH www.DiscoverGroveCity.com

D19 VI CO M RO SF UN

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GUIDE

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PARKS AND RECRE ATION OFFERINGS A PRIL/M AY 2021

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Online, phone and office registration begins Monday, March 8

www.GroveCityOhio.gov

The Source 1

The

P A R K S A N D R E C R E A T I O N O F F E R I N G S | A P R I L /M AY 2 0 21

The Source is the activity

GUIDE

guide detailing Grove City Parks and Recreation Department offerings. You have the opportunity to see a fresh set of classes and activities six times per year to help you select what fits best in your family’s busy schedule.

To register for a class or activity, call the Parks and Recreation office at 614-277-3050 or the Evans Center at 614-277-1060, use online registration, or stop in the Kingston Center, 3226 Kingston Ave.; or Evans Center, 4330 Dudley Ave. When registering for the first time, a staff member will assist you with establishing your household account in our system. To register online, customers must also have an online registration account. This simple process can be completed by phone or in person.

Registration is required for all activities even if there is no fee, unless designated as a drop-in class.

For more information on classes, activities and events in Grove City, visit GroveCityOhio.gov, sign up for our electronic newsletter and follow social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@GroveCityOhio).

Directory

Parks & Event Spaces

CITY OF GROVE CITY Building Division.....................614-277-3075 City Council............................614-277-3065 City Information......................614-277-3000 Community Relations..............614-277-3040 Development..........................614-277-3004 Division of Police....................614-277-1710 Evans Center..........................614-277-1060 Finance/Tax............................614-277-3025 Human Resources...................614-277-3013 Mayor’s Court.........................614-277-1715 Mayor’s Office.........................614-277-3006 Parks & Recreation.................614-277-3050 Parks Weather Hotline.............614-277-3060 Service Department................614-277-1100 Zoning....................................614-277-3086

Big Splash/Evans 2831 Southwest Blvd.

Breck Community (Dog Park) 3005 Demorest Road Concord Lakes Off Lake Mead Drive Creekside Off Holton Road Fryer (Century Village, Splash Pad) 3899 Orders Road Gantz (Gantz Barn, Gantz Farmhouse) 2255 Home Road George Edge Music Park on Broadway Park St. at Broadway Grant-Sawyer Home 4126 Haughn Road Grove City Gold Star Families Memorial Columbus St. at Broadway Grove City Museum 3378 Park St. Henceroth (Purple Heart Memorial Walk) 2075 Mallow Lane

City Offices City Hall 4035 Broadway Evans Center 4330 Dudley Ave. Kingston Center 3226 Kingston Ave. Safety Complex (Police) 3360 Park St. Service Complex 3262 Ventura Blvd.

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Hoover Park Off Haughn Road Indian Trails Off Buckeye Parkway Keller Farms Off White Road Meadowgrove Off Springhill Drive Pinnacle Area 2430 Holton Road Scioto Meadows Off Scioto Meadows Blvd.

Skate Park 3728 Hoover Road Town Center Gazebo Grove City Road at Broadway Town Center Promenade Park St. to Grant Ave. (parking lot) Walden Bluff Walden Bluff Court Westgrove Park 3580 Magnolia St. Windsor (Evans Center) 4330 Dudley Ave. 4408 Broadway

Online GroveCityOhio.gov Connect with @GroveCityOhio www.GroveCityOhio.gov

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Preschool RecSchool (Ages: 3-5) Grove City Parks and Recreation’s child-centered preschool fosters each child’s feelings of competence, social skills, independence, love of learning and appreciation for the wonders of nature. Curriculum is based on the Ohio Department of Education’s Early Learning Content Standards and capitalizes on how children learn best: through play. Activities balance spontaneous and planned learning experiences including art, literacy, music, exploration, early academics, science and daily outdoor experiences.

RecSchool is at Gantz Barn in Gantz Park and operates September through May with part-week, half-day classes offered morning or afternoon. Enrollees must be 3 years old by Sept. 30 of the current school year. Registration for each school year begins the previous February and continues until the program is full.

Sept.-May Gantz Barn Morning and afternoon options 2020-2021 Registration: Call Michele Demmy, 614-871-6330, for information.

Friday PlaySchool (Ages: 3-4½) Children gain independence and confidence while learning to work and play with others in a child-centered classroom setting. Activities each week include creative art, sensory exploration, social play and singing at circle time.

Wks: 7 • Classes: 7 • Day: Fri. Gantz Barn Upstairs $50 (NR: $55) Begins: April 9 • 9:30-11 a.m.

Activity #: 1082104_01

Registration

Online, phone and office registration begins Mon., March 8 www.GroveCityOhio.gov

WeJoySing (Ages: 1 month-5 years) Discover how your baby, toddler or preschooler learns and grows through JOY-filled musical play. Essential early childhood development is nurtured as you play together, creating bonds that last a lifetime. Visit WeJoySing.com for dates, time and costs.

Grove City United Methodist Church, 2684 Columbus St. Contact: WeJoySing.com, 614-868-0107 Gymnastics: Parent & Tot (Age: 2) Toddlers spend quality time with a parent while enhancing fine and gross motor skills and coordination as they practice following directions and taking turns to prepare for more advanced classes.

Wks: 6 • Classes: 6 • Day: Mon. Kingston Center Gym $48 (NR: $53) Begins: April 5 • 4:30-5 p.m.

Activity #: 1012104_01

Gymnastics (Ages: 3-4) Young gymnasts learn basic skills for vault, bars, beam and floor developing foundational skills to build upon as they advance while following simple instruction and taking turns.

Gymnastics (Age: 3) Wks: 6 • Classes: 6 • Day: Mon. Kingston Center Gym $48 (NR: $53) Begins: April 5 • 5:15-5:45 p.m.

Activity #: 1012104_02 Wks: 6 • Classes: 6 • Day: Tue. Kingston Center Room 4 $48 (NR: $53) Begins: April 6 • 5-5:30 p.m.

Activity #: 1012104_03

Program details subject to change to reduce community health risks from COVID-19.

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Wks: 6 • Classes: 6 • Day: Tue. Kingston Center Room 4 $48 (NR: $53) Begins: April 6 • 5:45-6:15 p.m.

Activity #: 1012104_04 Wks: 6 • Classes: 6 • Day: Thu. Kingston Center Gym $48 (NR: $53) Begins: April 8 • 4:30-5 p.m.

Activity #: 1012104_05 Gymnastics (Age: 4) Wks: 6 • Classes: 6 • Day: Tue. Kingston Center Room 4 $48 (NR: $53) Begins: April 6 • 6:30-7 p.m.

Activity #: 1012104_06 Wks: 6 • Classes: 6 • Day: Tue. Kingston Center Room 4 $48 (NR: $53) Begins: April 6 • 7:15-7:45 p.m.

Activity #: 1012104_07 Wks: 6 • Classes: 6 • Day: Thu. Kingston Center Gym $48 (NR: $53) Begins: April 8 • 5:15-5:45 p.m.

Activity #: 1012104_08 Modern Dance (Ages: 3-4) Participants learn the jazz dance style, adapting bold, dynamic movements and techniques to later apply to a variety of modern dances. Develop skills to grow and enhance your journey for future dance. Experienced instructor Lindsay Maynard leads.

Modern Dance (Age: 3) Wks: 6 • Classes: 6 • Day: Thu. Kingston Center Room 4 $48 (NR: $53) Begins: April 8 • 5:30-6 p.m.

Activity #: 1022104_01 Modern Dance (Age: 4) Wks: 6 • Classes: 6 • Day: Thu. Kingston Center Room 4 $48 (NR: $53) Begins: April 8 • 6:15-6:45 p.m.

Activity #: 1022104_02

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Baby Ballet (Ages: 3-4) New dancers are introduced to the fundamentals of ballet while developing coordination, balance and grace. Child must be toilet trained.

Ballet shoes or slippers needed. Tami Kelly instructs.

Wks: 6 • Classes: 6 • Day: Wed. Kingston Center Room 4 $56 (NR: $64) Begins: April 7 • 5:15-5:45 p.m.

Activity #: 1022104_03 JumpBunch (Ages: 1½-2) Toddlers build coordination, balance, teamwork and motor skills during coach-led activities. Through encouragement and success, children gain confidence, sports-readiness skills and the foundations of fitness.

JumpBunch (Age: 18-24 months) Wks: 6 • Classes: 5 • Day: Wed. Kingston Center Gym $50 (NR: $55) Begins: April 14 • 6:30-7 p.m.

No class May 5 (Wed.) Activity #: 1032104_01

JumpBunch (Age: 2) Wks: 5 • Classes: 5 • Day: Wed. Kingston Center Gym $50 (NR: $55) Begins: April 14 • 6:45-7:15 p.m.

No class May 5 (Wed.) Activity #: 1032104_02 Sporties for Shorties (Age: 3-4) Young children develop kicking, running, throwing and team skills through exciting lead-up sports activities and group games. Focus sports may include baseball, soccer, football and others. Powered by JumpBunch.

Wks: 6 • Classes: 5 • Day: Wed. Kingston Center Gym $50 (NR: $55) Begins: April 14 • 7:30-8:15 p.m.

No class May 5 (Wed.) Activity #: 1032104_03

Registration

Online, phone and office registration begins Mon., March 8 www.GroveCityOhio.gov

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Youth P.A.R.K. (Grades: K-4) Programmed After-school Recreation for Kids is committed to providing a safe, secure, enriching and affordable place to be after school. This schoolage childcare program offers daily after-school activities for children in kindergarten through grade four staffed by qualified childcare providers at each site. P.A.R.K. operates in the school gymnasiums at Buckeye Woods, J.C. Sommer, Monterey and Richard Avenue elementaries every day the SWCSD is in session. The program is designed for, but not limited to, children of working parents. P.A.R.K. provides planned cooperative games, outrageous play, fitness, indoor and outdoor activities, free art, specialinterest and free-choice activities and much more.

Days: Mon.-Fri. Buckeye Woods, J.C. Sommer, Monterey, Richard Avenue Elementaries $190 per month School Days • 2:30-6 p.m.

Follows SWCSD schedule Call 614-277-3050 for assistance.

Before-School P.A.R.K. - Elementary (Grades: K-4) Before-school P.A.R.K. creates a safe, fun environment in the morning hours before school starts for students of Buckeye Woods, Highland Park, J.C. Sommer, Monterey and Richard Avenue elementaries. The monthly tuition fee includes breakfast and supervised recreational activities. This program meets every day the SWCSD is in session. Transportation to the child’s home school is provided by the SWCSD Transportation Department; J.C. Sommer elementary students walk to school with P.A.R.K. staff.

Days: Mon.-Fri. Kingston Center $98 per month School Days • 6-8 a.m.

Follows SWCSD schedule Call 614-277-3050 for assistance.

www.GroveCityOhio.gov

Before-School P.A.R.K. Intermediate (Grades: 5-6) Before-school P.A.R.K. creates a safe, fun environment in the morning hours before school starts for students of Hayes, Holt Crossing and Park Street intermediate schools. The monthly tuition fee includes breakfast and supervised recreational activities. This program meets every day the SWCSD is in session. Transportation to the child’s home school is provided by the SWCSD Transportation Department; Park Street Intermediate students walk to school with P.A.R.K. staff.

Days: Mon.-Fri. Kingston Center $110 per month School Days • 6-9 a.m.

Follows SWCSD schedule Call 614-277-3050 for assistance.

P.A.R.K. programs are popular!

Call 614-277-3050 to ensure availability before attempting to register.

P.A.R.K. Registration: 2021-2022 School Year (Grades: K-6) Registration for the three school year P.A.R.K. programs opens to the public each May; current participants enjoy an early registration period. Spaces are limited with openings filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Monthly fees are $190 for after-school, $98 for before-school elementary and $110 for before-school intermediate. $30 registration fee due at registration; payments made monthly August through April Visit GroveCityOhio.gov for updates on registration.

Summer P.A.R.K. (Grades K-4) This full-day childcare program offers cooperative games, fitness, indoor and outdoor activities, free art, special interest activities, on-site mini-camps, stations, free choice activities and more. Participants take weekly field trips, including excursions to The Big Splash.

Wks: 9 • Days: Mon.-Fri. SWCSD sites $100 registration fee due at registration; 3 payments of $400 made May through July Begins: June 14 • 7 a.m.-6 p.m.

No class: July 2 or 5 (Fri. & Mon.) Visit GroveCityOhio.gov for updates on registration.

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Intro to Parkour (Ages: 5-10) Participants learn to safely navigate obstacles through running, jumping, climbing and safely landing. Strength and flexibility are incorporated into each class.

Intro to Parkour (Ages: 5-6) Wks: 6 • Classes: 6 • Day: Mon. Kingston Center Gym $48 (NR: $53) Begins: April 5 • 6-6:30 p.m.

Activity #: 2012104_01 Intro to Parkour (Ages: 7-8) Wks: 6 • Classes: 6 • Day: Mon. Kingston Center Gym $48 (NR: $53) Begins: April 5 • 6:45-7:15 p.m.

Activity #: 2012104_02 Intro to Parkour (Ages: 9-10) Wks: 6 • Classes: 6 • Day: Mon. Kingston Center Gym $48 (NR: $53) Begins: April 5 • 7:30-8 p.m.

Activity #: 2012104_03 Gymnastics: Rock-n-Roller (Girls Ages: 5-12) Girls learn beginner skills on vault, bar, beam and floor to use as foundations while advancing through the program.

Gymnastics: Rock-n-Roller (Girls Age: 5) Wks: 6 • Classes: 6 • Day: Tue. Kingston Center Gym $48 (NR: $53) Begins: April 6 • 5-5:30 p.m.

Activity #: 2012104_04

Some adult classes are open to teens. Check the Adult section or call 614-277-3050 for options.

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Gymnastics: Rock-n-Roller (Girls Ages: 5-6) Wks: 6 • Classes: 6 • Day: Tue. Kingston Center Gym $48 (NR: $53) Begins: April 6 • 5:45-6:15 p.m.

Activity #: 2012104_08 Wks: 6 • Classes: 6 • Day: Thu. Kingston Center Gym $48 (NR: $53) Begins: April 8 • 6-6:30 p.m.

Activity #: 2012104_05 Gymnastics: Rock-n-Roller (Girls Ages: 7-9) Wks: 6 • Classes: 6 • Day: Tue. Kingston Center Gym $48 (NR: $53) Begins: April 6 • 6:30-7 p.m.

Activity #: 2012104_09 Wks: 6 • Classes: 6 • Day: Thu. Kingston Center Gym $48 (NR: $53) Begins: April 8 • 6:45-7:15 p.m.

Activity #: 2012104_06 Gymnastics: Rock-n-Roller (Girls Ages: 10-12) Wks: 6 • Classes: 6 • Day: Tue. Kingston Center Gym $48 (NR: $53) Begins: April 6 • 7:15-7:45 p.m.

Activity #: 2012104_07

Modern Dance (Ages: 5-10) Participants learn the jazz dance style, adapting bold, dynamic movements and techniques to later apply to a variety of modern dances. Develop skills to grow and enhance your journey for future dance. Experienced instructor Lindsay Maynard leads.

Wks: 6 • Classes: 6 • Day: Thu. Kingston Center Room 4 $52 (NR: $57) Begins: April 8 • 7-7:45 p.m.

Activity #: 2022104_01 Ballet Princess (Ages: 5-7) Develop coordination, balance and grace while being introduced to the fundamentals of ballet. Ballet shoes or soft soled slippers needed. Tami Kelly instructs.

Wks: 6 • Classes: 6 • Day: Wed. Kingston Center Room 4 $56 (NR: $64) Begins: April 7 • 6-6:30 p.m.

Activity #: 2022104_02

Program details subject to change to reduce community health risks from COVID-19. www.GroveCityOhio.gov

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Ballet Basics (Ages: 8-12) Slightly older children just getting started are introduced to ballet fundamentals, developing coordination, balance and grace. Ballet shoes or soft soled shoes needed. Tami Kelly instructs.

Wks: 6 • Classes: 6 • Day: Wed. Kingston Center Room 4 $56 (NR: $64) Begins: April 7 • 6:45-7:15 p.m.

Activity #: 2022104_03 Skating Lessons (Ages: 4-12) Learn basic roller skating skills at Skate America. Students receive free roller skates and may stay after lessons to practice. Register at Skate America, 4357 Broadway, or call 614-875-7606.

Wks: 4 • Classes: 4 • Day: Sat. Skate America, 4357 Broadway $59 (NR $59) Begins: April 3 • 12:15-1:15 p.m.

Register with Skate America Wks: 4 • Classes: 4 • Day: Sat. Skate America, 4357 Broadway $59 (NR $59) Begins: May 1 • 12:15-1:15 p.m.

Register with Skate America Shaving Cream Easter Eggs (Ages: 6-9) Try a different way to color Easter eggs: use shaving cream and food coloring to dye hard boiled eggs to take home.

Dress to get messy. Gloria Hartung instructs.

Wks: 1 • Class: 1 • Day: Thu. Gantz Farmhouse $10 (NR: $12) Begins: April 1 • 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Activity #: 2042104_01

Registration

Online, phone and office registration begins Mon., March 8 www.GroveCityOhio.gov

Big Art (Ages: 6-9) Cover a variety of styles and techniques while focusing on the process, using quality materials and supplies found in an artist’s studio like pastels, watercolors, acrylics and more. Take home a finished piece each class. Art supplies furnished. Dress to get messy/ bring a smock.

Wks: 4 • Classes: 4 • Day: Tue. Kingston Center Room 2 $50 (NR: $55) Begins: April 6 • 6-6:45 p.m.

Activity #: 2042104_02 Wks: 4 • Classes: 4 • Day: Tue. Kingston Center Room 2 $50 (NR: $55) Begins: May 4 • 6-6:45 p.m.

Activity #: 2042105_02 Art Workshop (Ages: 8-12) Learn and create artwork while combining techniques like sketching, painting, collage and more. Complete a project each week. Dress to get messy/ bring a smock.

Wks: 4 • Classes: 4 • Day: Tue. Kingston Center Room 2 $60 (NR: $68) Begins: April 6 • 7-8:15 p.m.

Activity #: 2042104_03 Wks: 4 • Classes: 4 • Day: Tue. Kingston Center Room 2 $60 (NR: $68) Begins: May 4 • 7-8:15 p.m.

Activity #: 2042105_03

Edible Art (Ages: 5-10) Use your design skills in the kitchen and create themed tasty treats to take home to your family.

Wks: 1 • Class: 1 • Day: Wed. Kingston Center Room 2 $14 (NR: $16) Begins: April 14 • 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Activity #: 2042104_04 Recycle! Bird Feeder (Ages: 6-10) To honor Earth Day, use a juice container destined for the recycle bin to make a backyard bird feeder.

Birdseed is included. Gloria Hartung instructs.

Wks: 1 • Class: 1 • Day: Wed. Gantz Farmhouse $8 (NR: $10) Begins: May 26 • 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Activity #: 2042105_01 Candle Holder (Ages: 5-12) Create several candle holders to warm up your home decor by painting ceramic votives, glass jars and more.

Wks: 1 • Class: 1 • Day: Wed. Kingston Center Room 2 $12 (NR: $14) Begins: May 26 • 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Activity #: 2042105_05 Modeling: The Catwalk (Ages: 7-16)

Experience fashion on a make-believe catwalk stage. Learn to walk with grace Dot Art and style as well as basic etiquette to (Ages: 5-12) help with good behavior and manners.

Invite a guest to see you work the stage Jump in for a fun and interactive and model your favorite outfits on the project creating your own unique creations using paint, cotton swabs and last day. Students are encouraged to model their favorite Disney character a canvas. costumes/outfits. Includes in-class Wks: 1 • Class: 1 • Day: Wed. photo session with a professional.

Kingston Center Room 2 Photos are yours to keep! $10 (NR: $12) Wks: 7 • Classes: 7 • Day: Tue. Begins: May 12 • 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Evans Center Classroom Activity #: 2042105_04 $175 (NR: $190) Begins: April 6 • 5-6 p.m.

Activity #: 2052104_01

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Find a Gemstone (Ages: 7-12) Play the role of geologists: excavate and sift through gravel to discover hidden gems! Become detectives to identify gems and marvel at your findings that you take home and share. Dress to get messy and wet as geologists must dig through muddy waters to discover their hidden gems in the rough.

Wks: 1 • Class: 1 • Day: Wed. Kingston Center Room 2 $13 (NR: $15) April 28 • 7-8 p.m.

Activity #: 2092104_01 Acting Games (Ages: 7-16)

Find a Fossil (Ages: 7-12)

Build confidence and creativity while having fun learning to act through games and improvisational situations to help you think on your feet and explore the possibilities of your imagination. Acting games build skills in collaboration, expose participant to new experiences and foster selfreliance.

Role play as a paleontologist by digging through a gravel matrix to uncover buried fossils. Each paleontologist takes home unique fossils to share with friends and family.

Dress to get messy and wet.

Wks: 7 • Classes: 7 • Day: Thu. Kingston Center Room 2 $88 (NR: $98)

May 19 • 7-8 p.m.

Activity #: 2092105_03

Begins: April 8 • 5-5:50 p.m.

Activity #: 2052104_02 Acting Class with Showcase (Ages: 7-16) Work in groups to act out various, age-appropriate acting scenes, including some from TV, movies and plays. Improve your memory, learn to develop a character and increase self-confidence and stage presence.

Great for anyone interested in working in the entertainment industry. The instructor can provide guidance to parents of children interested pursuing professional acting. Last day is a showcase for guests to see the participants in action.

Wks: 1 • Class: 1 • Day: Wed. Kingston Center Room 2 $13 (NR: $15)

Fairy Gardens (Ages: 6-9) Use some miniature thyme and a few tiny fairy plants to create a special bower for the fairies or other mythological creatures who live in your garden. A pot and all the plants, plus decorative items like seashells, rocks and other natural materials are provided. Feel free to bring garden furnishings to make your fairy garden unique. Gloria Hartung instructs.

Wks: 1 • Class: 1 • Day: Thu. Gantz Farmhouse $25 (NR: $28) May 13 • 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Activity #: 2092105_01

Wks: 7 • Classes: 7 • Day: Thu. Kingston Center Room 2 $132 (NR: $147)

Garden Sprouts (Ages: 6-10) Experience the basics of starting and growing your own vegetable garden.

In a hands-on group garden that takes place June through August, learn to prepare the ground, plant seeds then water and watch the plants as they produce vegetables you then harvest.

Dress to get messy. Info meeting is Wednesday, May 19 for the parents and children to explain the program.

Garden volunteer Amy Weber instructs.

Wks: 15 • Classes: 15 • Day: TBD Gantz Farmhouse $40 (NR: $45) Info Meeting: Wed., May 19 • 7-8 p.m.

Activity #: 2092105_02 LEGO Robot BattleBots (Ages: 6-12) Looking for something to do on April Fools’ Day? It’s no joke – school is out April 1, so take the opportunity to enjoy an exciting in-person LEGO BattleBot event. Program and build robots to compete in a BattleBot championship with prizes. No experience necessary; participants learn everything needed to put together a winning BattleBot. Wks: 1 • Class: 1 • Day: Thu. Kingston Center Room 2 $75 (NR: $83) April 1 • 1:30-4:30 p.m.

Activity #: 2102104_01 VIPs: Teens for Grove City (Grades 7-12) Join the Volunteer Involvement Program (V.I.P.) to donate your time and expertise while gaining service hours and a great feeling of helping others.

Hours are conveniently tracked through the program. Grove City offers many events and programs throughout the year, and participants in this program help make them successful. Join today to have fun and make a difference in the community. Applications are available in the Kingston Center and at GroveCityOhio.gov.

Call 614-277-3058 for information.

Begins: April 8 • 6:05-6:55 p.m.

Activity #: 2052104_03

Program details subject to change to reduce community health risks from COVID-19.

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www.GroveCityOhio.gov

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Adult Spring Tonics (Age: 18+) Many healthy and delicious spring tonics are made by various combinations of fruit, raw honey and vinegar. Taste several and mix up one to take home. Mary Jane LaLonde instructs.

Wks: 1 • Class: 1 • Day: Thu. Gantz Farmhouse $15 (NR: $17) April 8 • 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Activity #: 3072104_01 Fresh Salad Bowl Garden (Age: 18+) Tired of the same old store-bought salad greens? Grow your own fresh ones on your patio or doorstep. Plant a bowl planter with a variety of greens and an herb including both plants and seeds so your bowl garden lasts all summers. Also learn to prepare fresh herbal dressing to enhance your salads.

Arlen Crosser instructs.

Wks: 1 • Class: 1 • Day: Tue. Gantz Farmhouse $25 (NR: $28) May 11 • 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Activity #: 3072105_01 Ohio Native Plants (Age: 18+) Natives are more than grass and roadside weeds! April is Ohio Native Plant Month. Learn why natives are so important to add to your existing flower beds and how relatively carefree they are to grow. List of plants suitable for central Ohio will be given out. Gloria Hartung instructs.

Wks: 1 • Class: 1 • Day: Tue. Gantz Farmhouse $5 (NR: $7) April 13 • 7-8 p.m.

Activity #: 3092104_01

Registration

Online, phone and office registration begins Mon., March 8 www.GroveCityOhio.gov

8 Herbs You Can’t Live Without (Age: 18+) Learn the history, folklore and uses as well as how to grow the eight most useful herbs for the home gardener.

Take home an herb and information sheet. Gloria Hartung instructs.

Wks: 1 • Class: 1 • Day: Mon. Gantz Farmhouse $8 (NR: $10) May 10 • 7-8 p.m.

Activity #: 3092105_01 Decorative Concrete Garden Bowl (Age: 18+) Create a decorative concrete bowl with a leaf motif as a lovely addition for your garden. Pour quick-cure concrete into two plastic bowls used as molds then imbed leaves for an impressed pattern.

Mary Jane LaLonde instructs.

Wks: 1 • Class: 1 • Day: Thu. Gantz Farmhouse $30 (NR: $35) April 22 • 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Activity #: 3042104_01 Patio Candle Planter (Age: 18+) Nothing looks prettier on your patio table than a beautiful dish garden.

Even better, this dual-duty centerpiece features bug-repelling herbs and a central citronella candle bowl to ward

off insects. Also make a bug repellent spray using essential oils. Mary Jane LaLonde instructs.

Wks: 1 • Class: 1 • Day: Tue. Gantz Farmhouse $35 (NR: $38) May 18 • 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Activity #: 3092105_02 Meals-on-Wheels: Volunteer (Ages: 18+) Share your time and visit the homebound to deliver a hot meal and a message of loving concern from the community: volunteer for a Meals-onWheels route. Training is provided.

Daily Register with LifeCare Alliance Adopt-A-Street/Park Program (Ages All) Join Keep Grove City Beautiful in ensuring Grove City stays clean, safe and beautiful. Civic organizations, families, churches, school groups and individuals have the opportunity to lend a hand in collecting litter from City streets and parks and planting flowers in public areas. Citizens of all ages can make a difference and enhance Grove City’s quality of life. In recognition of your efforts, signs are installed identifying the group as a contributor in their designated area.

Call 614-277-3058 for information.

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Registration

Grove City Parks and Recreation offers five easy methods to register for classes. Registration forms are available for download online at GroveCityOhio.gov or pick up at the Kingston Center or the Evans Center.

ONLINE registration is available at GroveCityOhio.gov for most Parks and Recreation offerings, providing 24-hour access to our exciting array of options for all ages.

1 2

WALK-IN registration is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., in the Kingston Center, 3226 Kingston Ave., for preschool, youth and adult classes, and at the Evans Center, 4330 Dudley Ave., for 55+ offerings.

3

Registration by PHONE is accepted via Visa, Discover or MasterCard only, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call the Evans Center, 614-277-1060, for 55+ classes, and the Kingston Center, 614-277-3050, for all others.

4

Use the silver DROP BOX located on the parking lot side of the Kingston Center for afterhours registration. The box is opened at 8 a.m. each business day; registrations placed in the box after 8 a.m. are processed the next business day.

5

MAIL your payment and completed registration form to: Grove City Parks and Recreation Department, Kingston Center, 3226 Kingston Ave., Grove City, OH 43123

Payment Methods • Cash or Money Order • Checks made payable to: City of Grove City. A customer with a returned check is assessed a $25 fee.

Any customer with two returned checks within 12 months must pay all subsequent fees by cash or money order.

• Credit Card: MasterCard, Discover or Visa only Confirmation Once you have registered for a class, no other confirmations are made unless a change is made in the program details. It is the responsibility of the participant to be present on the date and time listed.

Cancellations/Credit Registered participants may cancel from a program, but it is that participant’s responsibility to contact the Parks and Recreation Department. A credit is made to the participant’s account if a request is made in writing prior to the start of the program. To receive a full refund for sports, the request must be made before uniforms are ordered.

Class/Event Cancellation All classes and events are subject to change or cancellation based on participation and instructor availability.

A staff member will notify all registered class participants as changes occur.

Photos and Videos The City of Grove City reserves the right to photograph or record event and program participants for publicity purposes. Images may be used in catalogs, brochures, magazines, ads or other print or electronic public relations efforts (i.e., website, social media).

Residency Rates & Fair Share Policy The lower “resident rate” provides credit to those paying municipal taxes that help support the programs 10 The Source

and events offered by the City of Grove City. To qualify as a resident, a person must live or work in Grove City or Jackson Township. This does not include all of ZIP code 43123; ZIP codes are used by the U.S. Postal Service to designate the office that delivers mail to an address.

Visit FranklinCountyAuditor.com to check your address. Grove City parcel IDs start with 040; unincorporated Jackson Township with 160.

Through the City of Grove City Fair Share Policy, non-residents who pay income tax to the City of Grove City are eligible to participate at resident rates. To be eligible, non-residents must annually provide proof of employment on company letterhead with the signature of the personnel director or a current pay stub showing the employer’s address.

Equal Opportunities and Special Populations The Grove City Parks and Recreation Department is committed to serving the whole community. All persons regardless of age, sex, race, color, national origin or religion are encouraged to participate. Our goal is also to include individuals with special needs in our existing programs based on their need and ability. Groups or individuals serving special populations are welcome to contact the department to make program arrangements.

The City of Grove City does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admission or access to its programs or activities. An ADA Coordinator has been designated to coordinate compliance with the nondiscrimination requirements contained in the Department of Justice regulations implementing Subtitle A of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. §12101 et seq.), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by public agencies. The ADA Coordinator can be contacted at 614-277-3050. www.GroveCityOhio.gov

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GUIDE

Grove City Parks and Recreation Shelter Rentals

Windsor and Gantz parks feature shelters large enough for gatherings available to the public year-round, dawn to dusk, and are open for walk-up usage if not already reserved. Reservations for April through December 2021 open Tuesday, Jan. 19. All other shelters and gazebos are accessible on a first-come basis and are not reservable. The Eagle Pavilion in Fryer Park has separate policies from open shelters; there is no walk-up usage. For more information, call 614-277-3050 or visit GroveCityOhio.gov and select Park Rentals from the Parks and Recreation menu.

WINDSOR PARK LARGE SHELTER

GANTZ PARK LARGE SHELTER

GANTZ PARK SMALL SHELTER

Size Picnic Tables Electricity

Size Picnic Tables Electricity

Size Picnic Tables Electricity

1,500 square feet 18* With key ($25 deposit)

Rental Times & Fees

1,800 square feet 18* With key ($25 deposit)

Rental Times & Fees

11 a.m.-3 p.m. or 4-8 p.m.: $55 ($70 NR) Full Day (11 a.m.-8 p.m.): $95 ($125 NR)

11 a.m.-3 p.m. or 4-8 p.m.: $45 ($60 NR) Full Day (11 a.m.-8 p.m.): $75 ($105 NR)

850 square feet 6* With key ($25 deposit)

Rental Times & Fees

11 a.m.-3 p.m. or 4-8 p.m.: $45 ($60 NR) Full Day (11 a.m.-8 p.m.): $75 ($105 NR)

Outdoor Shelter Reminders:

WINDSOR PARK BASEBALL FOR ALL/DREAM FIELD SHELTER

GANTZ PARK GAZEBO

Size 1,500 square feet Picnic Tables 8* Electricity With key ($25 deposit) Rental Times & Fees 11 a.m.-3 p.m. or 4-8 p.m.: $45 ($60 NR) Full Day (11 a.m.-8 p.m.): $75 ($105 NR)

Size Picnic Tables Electricity

500 square feet 0 With key ($25 deposit)

Rental Times & Fees

11 a.m.-3 p.m. or 4-8 p.m.: $45 ($60 NR) Full Day (11 a.m.-8 p.m.): $75 ($105 NR)

FRYER PARK EAGLE PAVILION (ALL SEASON) Size Amenities Utilities

2,500 square feet Serving kitchen, restrooms, round tables and chairs Electricity, plumbing

Rental Times & Fees

Damage deposit (refundable): $150 8 a.m.-noon, 1-5 p.m. or 6-10 p.m.: $200 Any two time blocks: $400 Full Day (8 a.m.-10 p.m.): $550 Pavilion may only be rented by residents.

• Refunds only granted 30+ days before reservation date.

• Water fountains/flushing toilets are seasonal (April 15-Oct. 15).

• Electricity is available using a key; requires a $25 refundable deposit.

• Reservations have priority. Shelters are first-come, first-served if not rented.

• Shelters are cleaned early each morning. Be prepared in case others have left messes.

• Tobacco products, alcohol use/ impairment and weapons are prohibited.

• All park laws apply; see Grove City Code Chapter 903.

Parks with Walk-up Shelters • • • • • •

Blodwen Creed-Lawless Creekside Fryer Park Indian Trails Keller Farms

• Meadowgrove • Scioto Meadows • Swearingen • Westgrove • Windsor

Reservations for rentable shelters for 2021 are available starting Tue., Jan. 19.

*Shelters are at reduced capacity until further notice due to community health risks. www.GroveCityOhio.gov

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Parks and Recreation Year in Review: 2020 2020 HIGHLIGHTS

2020 BY THE NUMBERS

New/Improved Amenities

Parks & Open Space Acres

Henceroth Park • Lighting added for military memorials Hennigan's Grove • New playground Holton Run • New playground Hoover Crossing • New playground and pollinator boxes Windsor Park • Painting of baseball buildings • Replacement of batting cages • Installation of pickleball courts • Installation of turf infields on Fields 2 and 5

Renovations

Evans Center • Interior improvements to lobby, bathrooms, multipurpose room and dining room The Big Splash • Repairs to the pool bottom and coping stones

Paths & Paving

• Bike trail repaved and short extension added in Fryer Park • West trails and parking lot repaved in Windsor Park • Multi-use path added along SR 104 at Hawthorne Pkwy.

History

• Train Depot at Century Village: interior completed, ramp added and exterior painting completed • Welcome Center & Museum: updates to interior including room changes and new cabinets; inventory of artifacts

New Events & Innovations

• Winter baseball clinic for 100 players ages 7-12 • Source at Home activity guide webpage • Evans Center Call Center community resource line operated March-July • LifeCare Alliance meal drive throughs for seniors • Virtual Bunny Riddle Hunt • Check-in calls to Evans Center participants

Grants & Awards

Challenges

• Shut downs and cancellations due to COVID-19 starting March 23 including mass refunds • Implementing policies, signage and supplies to comply with COVID-19 protocols

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Miles of Paved Paths Total: 29.17

Park Amenities

9 ' B Ê H

23 19 12 2 6 6

| | | | | |

(6) small • (10) medium • (7) large (10) baseball • (8) softball • (1) all access (4) small • (3) medium • (5) large | (4) rentable (1) Fryer Park • (1) Gantz Park (4) Windsor Park • (2) Gantz Park Windsor Park pickleball complex

Adult Sports Teams Total: 145  Fall Softball (25)  Volleyball (14)  Winter Cornhole (8)

Baseball - Fall

Total: 542  Tball (age 5)  Minor 6 (age 6)  Minor 7-8 (ages 7-8)  Minor 9-10 (ages 9-10)  Major 11-12 (ages 11-12)  Junior (ages 13-14)  Big (ages 15-17)

Youth Basketball

Total: 795  Boys Grades K-1  Boys Grade 2  Boys Grade 3  Boys Grade 4  Boys Grade 5  Boys Grade 6  Boys Grade 7-8  Boys Grade 9-10  Boys Grade 11-12

7+9+26211711

10+9+681011754

• Ohio Parks and Recreation Association grant ($1,000) Get Rec'd Bags activity packs for children and seniors • Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District grant ($2,000) - Hoover Crossing pollinator gardens and trees • OPRA award - Management Innovation second place, Evans Center Call Center • OPRA award - Sports Programs & Events second place, Winter Baseball Clinic

Total: 459 | Parks: 283 • Open Space: 176 Northeast........................ 86  Parks ......................... 38  Open Space ........... 48 Southeast ....................... 157  Parks ......................... 45  Open Space ........... 112 Southwest ...................... 129  Parks ......................... 123  Open Space ........... 6 Northwest....................... 86  Parks ......................... 76  Open Space ........... 10

   

Girls Grades K-2 Girls Grades 3-4 Girls Grades 5-6 Girls Grades 7-12 www.GroveCityOhio.gov

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