ASHLAND — Andy McClure, the father of the late Davy McClure, added a small piece of red tape to the Ashland County Park District’s fundraising thermometer on Friday, indicating that $220,000, or around 90 percent of the district’s $250,000 fundraising goal had been raised for an outdoor education center named for his son.
“Well, we’re almost there. It’s really been phenomenal. (The) community has responded beyond our expectations. I think people have stepped up,” Ashland County Park District commissioner Bob DeSanto said.
David “Davy” McClure was an Ashland native who worked as a park commissioner, Ashland City Schools bus driver, and a driving instructor. He died in September 2020 at the age of 46 due to complications from a cardiac arrest.
A new outdoor education center for the parks was his dream, and if the district can “get over (the) hump” of $250,000 raised in the next two or three weeks, construction could start this summer, DeSanto said.
The project could even be completed as early as Christmas, but that’s “not a promise,” DeSanto added. If they miss Christmas, it will be open next spring.
The money the district raises will be matched by a donation from Rob and Jan Archer, giving them around $500,000 to build the new state-of-the art facility at Tom Kruse Park.
The district will still accept donations even after they’ve hit their goal because of the rising costs of materials, McClure said. Plus, extra money would make the center “nicer,” DeSanto added.
McClure said his son would be “amazed” at the amount of money raised so far.
“He’d be pushing harder (for donations) than I do, I think,” he said.
Those interested in donating can come into the park district’s office at 1301 Park Street or mail in checks earmarked for the education center to the Friends of the Ashland County Park District, DeSanto said.
