Rotary sponsors 5th annual ‘Make Ashland Sparkle’ event

ASHLAND — Dozens of community members met on a mild Saturday morning to make their city sparkle. 

The Rotary Club of Ashland and the city’s fifth annual “Make Ashland Sparkle” event drew more than 100 volunteers ranging from toddlers to seniors. They met to work on a handful of projects throughout the city.

“The event just kind of morphs every year,” said David Miller, the event’s co-chair. “We always focus on the parks and the trash cleanup.”

Volunteers registered to help with the event online before Saturday. When they showed up at 8:30 a.m., organizers handed them a T-shirt, supplies and a donut.

There were groups that went to Freer Field, the Ashland County Senior Citizens Center, Cahn Grove Park, downtown and other area parks. 

“I’m picking up sticks,” said Willem Helmintoller.

The 9-year-old joined his siblings and parents at Cahn Grove Park, where — you guessed it — they picked up sticks. Willem managed to find a decent amount of them.

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Jerry Strausbaugh joined six others who gathered at the Ashland County Senior Center, to spread mulch. The rotary board member shoveled mulch into a wobbly wheelbarrow.

“This one only turns left,” he said with a smile, pushing it to a spot that needed fresh mulch.

On the other side of the city, at Freer Field, another group spread mulch. Eric Schneider, the director of Ashland County Parks District, helped with the project.

He said the other parks district employees spread across other parks — to spread mulch and Fibar, a composite material that is softer than mulch. 

“It’s used on playgrounds,” he said of the material. 

Something for all

The event started in 2020, said Lee Peters, chair of the event and member of the Rotary Club of Ashland. 

It was supposed to be in April 2020, but the pandemic delayed it to September. The first event drew around 80 volunteers who worked to paint fire hydrants around Ashland. 

Now the planning starts in January each year. Peters said he meets with city officials to learn about projects they can help with. Fire hydrants aren’t part of the event anymore, he said.

Sprucing up parks, picking up trash and sticks — that encompasses the agenda these days. 

Lee said the event has grown into something for all ages. 

“We’re teaching young people that giving back to the community is important,” Peters said. “That’s the greatest reward I get out of it.”