When Orange Township trustees rejected the name of “Bridge Park,” they decided to hold a naming contest for a new rest park next to the trail bridge crossing U.S. 23 to North Orange Park.
“The trustees didn’t like the name ‘Bridge Park’ that was suggested,” said Amanda Sheterom, human resources and communications manager. “We did have several names submitted that were similar to the name ‘Bridge Park.’”
Sheterom said trustees and the park board decided to hold a naming contest to get the community’s ideas.
The park board set out a sign in front of the park that can be seen from U.S. 23 across from the library and next to OhioHealth. Name suggestions were taken from June 10-30 at the library where a display had been set up or by email, according to Beth Hugh, park maintenance director.
The park is only a 1½-acre lot the township purchased along with the land for the trail bridge. “We had to buy the 1½ acre,” Hugh said. “The owner didn’t want to break up the property.”
According to a brochure from the park board, the new park is to be a resting area on the trail system and equipped with a shelter, picnic tables, drinking fountain, bike racks, parking spaces and landscaping.
“The trail goes all the way to the railroad tracks from the back of North Orange Park,” Hugh said.
Hugh said the park board is working on a tally of the names to submit to trustees next Monday night to narrow the total down to three names. After the three names are picked by trustees, they will be put on Survey Monkey for residents of Orange Township to make the final decision on the name.
The parks master plan calls for the trail to go all the way to Alum Creek State Park in the future, Hugh said. “I see that becoming a reality,” she said. “We have tons of things going on in the parks.”
“We’ve been working with (U.S. Rep.) Pat Tiberi’s (R-Genoa Township) office to cross the railroad tracks,” Hugh said. “He’s been working with the railroad to coordinate construction with them.”
