ASHLAND — Corner Park in downtown Ashland is slated to grow in November with new updates.
Ashland County commissioners approved Thursday the spending of $57,628 for materials needed to build a sidewalk, curbs and lighting for the project’s second phase.
The phase includes building a sidewalk, installing lights and tables for chess and checkers. When done, phase two will run from Claremont Avenue to just before Broad Street, following the creek between the parking lot and the city building.
It means the parking lot will lose a row of parking, but the project’s third phase — expected to begin next year — will involve reconfiguring the lot.
Funds for this part of the project came largely from a $48,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, along with private donations.
BCU Electric in Ashland, for example, has agreed to donate the labor for installing lighting along the walking path.
Commissioner Jim Justice said many other anonymous donors also helped out with the cost and labor.
Once finished, Corner Park will act as the trailhead for Center Run Trail — running from Broad to Center streets along Town Run.
Planning for the project began in 2019 and stalled through 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic, Justice said.
