Preserving Traditions and Creating Memories FOR

Lakeview's Basket Full of Memories

The historical Lakeview Park Easter Basket draws thousands of visitors to the lakefront park each spring. Serving as a token of local memory and tradition, the basket has held its prominent location at the park’s entrance for more than 80 years. The exact year of installation varies by source, but the idea of creating the basket is believed to have been initially discussed in 1937 by the City of Lorain Park Superintendent George Crehore. Crehore’s son had playfully suggested the idea of helping the Easter Bunny by placing a basket at the park. Crehore then tasked his employees with bringing the idea to life—a flower basket that would double as an Easter holiday display.

Basket creator, David Shukait, served as a mechanic in the Lorain Parks Department. When first presented with the idea, Shukait pushed back, claiming the request could not be done. However, Shukait and other park employees worked to create the towering, 10 feet tall, three and a half ton, concrete basket. The massive basket was built in a city garage and transported more than a mile, on skids, to its current home at Lakeview Park. The actual installation of the larger-than-life basket is believed to have occurred in April 1941.

Just before retiring from the parks department in 1957, Shukait received a US Patent for his unique concrete basket weave design. Shukait retired after nearly 25 years with the city park’s department. At the time of his death in 1976, the city honored Shukait with a plaque on the basket. This plaque reads, “In recognition of the exceptional artistic creativity in design and construction of the concrete Easter baskets for the city of Lorain’s park system.” Shukait’s basket work also includes a smaller version, which sits at Lorain’s Oakwood Park.

The basket is decorated each spring for the Easter holiday. This year, visitors can expect to see the eggs and beloved bunny in place by March 20 for the first day of spring. The decorations will remain in place through Easter Sunday, April 9, and Orthodox Easter, on Sunday, April 16.

NATURE LITERACY - WATER CONSERVATION

Wed., Apr. 5 | 1-3 pm

Lakeview Park, Lorain

Water is the lifeline of our entire ecosystem, and freshwater is a scarce resource. This program will reveal the importance of water conservation through storytelling and hands-on education. Join us at Lakeview Park, overlooking the great Lake Erie, to learn more about conservation, waterway pollution, and our own role in the protection of this critical natural resource. Students will participate in outdoor exploration (weather permitting), interactive story time, hands-on science experimentation, and an educational art activity.

HISTORICAL

Nature Literacy is a program offered in partnership with the Lorain Public Library System.

This drop-off style program is open to students in grades 3-5 (8-11 yearolds). Preregistration for this FREE program is required by April 1, as spots and supplies are limited. Participants are required to have a completed medical form on file to attend. Forms can be downloaded online at www.tinyurl.com/2e7b3865. Completed forms must be returned to Jadelynn Showalter at jshowalter@loraincountymetroparks.com by April 4. At the end of this program, Lorain Public Library materials will be available to check out with a valid ClevNet library card.