The Shawnee News-Star | Z Saturday-Sunday, June 26-27, 2021
• New • Improved • Moved • • Closed • Coming Soon! •
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s we look at the growth and development over the past year, it’s been a year of both change and uncertainty with momentum.
Progress has continued in many ways in the Shawnee area, including new construction of several businesses and other improvements or projects in the works or being planned. While the COVID-19 pandemic did impact many area businesses and there were some closures this
past year, the buildings left behind also can bring more opportunities for future growth. In this section, the News-Star takes a look at some of the projects and changes over the past year, from new construction projects and businesses, to expansions, relocations and much more. And as 2021 progresses, watch for more stories and updates in the News-Star and www. news-star.com.
park THE outdoor for hiking, RAVINE ATVs, camping
By Tina Bridenstine
When Becca Black and her family bought land in the Macomb area last year, she said the unique terrain gave her the idea for what they should do next – and that was opening an outdoor park. The Ravine is an 80-acre outdoor park located about 15 miles south on Highway 177, and it offers hiking, off-roading, cooking out, primitive camping, or even just lying back in a hammock and enjoying the scenery. Becca opened the park with help from her husband,
Shannon, and daughter, Kenna, after buying the land in May of 2020. After cutting trails and getting the land ready, the park opened in October of 2020. Currently, Becca said, they are one of the smallest outdoor parks for off roading, though she thinks the land is so interesting that it compensates for the small size. But also, The Ravine fills a unique niche in that it isn’t only for off roading, but includes hiking, camping, and family-friendly activities. The Ravine is located at 40557 Highway 59B, Macomb. Summer hours
are from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Mondays and from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Park entry closes at 8 p.m. The park is closed Tuesdays through Thursday. Cost is $5 per person, with children ages 12 and younger getting in for free. Camping is also $5 per person. Offroad vehicles are $15 per vehicle. ATVs, dirt bikes, side-by-sides, Jeeps, trucks, quads and mountain bikes are welcome. No dogs are allowed. For more information, follow The Ravine on Facebook, or visit www.ravineadventure. com.
Good Neighbor Friendship House In November, the Good Neighbor Friendship House — in a partnership between the Absentee Shawnee Housing Authority (ASHA) and Community Renewal of Pottawatomie County — held its grand opening by offering private tours of the community space and adjoining staff home.
Community Renewal’s Friendship House program is designed so each facility functions as a hub for resources and support in the neighborhood it serves.
At the corner of Bryan and Main, the facility is now the second Friendship House serving Shawnee.
Michael Phillips, Community Renewal’s Director of Campus Programs, lives in this new location with his wife, Jessica, and son Ben.
A Community Renewal staff member lives onsite with his/her family to provide consistent care for that area.