Circleville, OH – At a gathering on October 10, 2024, Friends of Ted Lewis park and community leaders celebrated a significant donation from OhioHealth aimed at revitalizing Ted Lewis Park. Larry Logan, chairman of the Friends of Ted Lewis Park, welcomed attendees, including OhioHealth representatives and local officials, to discuss the future of the beloved park.
Logan expressed gratitude for OhioHealth’s generous contribution, which exceeded initial requests for funding new lights for the youth playing fields. “In recognition of their commitment to community health, the playing fields will be named “OhioHealth Fields.” Logan acknowledged his brother, who was instrumental in developing the park’s vision in 2015 but could not attend due to illness.
The overarching goal of the Ted Lewis Park Fund is to restore the oldest park in Pickaway County, which has suffered from years of neglect. The city has allocated $2.5 million for reconstruction, with the Friends group tasked with raising additional funds to complete the project. Logan emphasized the importance of creating a safe and accessible recreational space for all citizens.
OhioHealth Berger Hospital President Casey Liddy praised the park’s significance to the community. “At OhioHealth, we believe healthcare extends beyond our facilities. It’s about fostering environments that promote health and well-being,” he said. Liddy noted that parks like Ted Lewis play a crucial role in encouraging physical activity and community connection.
Liddy also thanked everyone involved in the project, including local officials and volunteers, for their dedication to enhancing the park. He expressed pride in OhioHealth’s support of initiatives that contribute to the health and happiness of the Circleville community.
Karen Morrison, President of the OhioHealth Foundation, and Senior Vice President at OhioHealth joined Liddy to underscore OhioHealth’s long-standing commitment to improving health outcomes in the region. “This partnership is not just about the park; it’s about investing in the future of Circleville,” Morrison stated, “We are pleased to contribute to enhancing that health and wellness through our support of Ted Lewis Park. We are delighted to be a part of this community.”
Michelle Blanton Circleville Mayor, also spoke at the event, highlighting the park’s historical significance for generations of families in Circleville. She expressed gratitude for OhioHealth’s partnership and its positive impact on the community’s health and wellness.
The event culminated in a ceremonial presentation of 50,000 Dollars aimed at Ted Lewis Park Enhancements, symbolizing OhioHealth’s commitment to enhancing Ted Lewis Park and fostering a healthier future for the residents of Circleville.
During the meeting we asked Larry Logan about the shelter house that was burned down recently, he told us that they have currently raised 340,000 dollars for that project already raised as they were fund rasing before the shelter was destroyed, but he said that they still need to raise around 150,000 dollars for that project.
When asked about the mural and if it would be at the new shelter house Logan said, “One of the things that truly upset me about the fire was not just the loss itself, which is a criminal act beyond comprehension, but also what it meant for our community including that mural. I’ve been thinking about this a lot, and I proposed that we reach out to the art departments in schools across Pickaway County. We can ask students to create their own interpretations of the original mural, which we can then repaint in the new shelter house. This would be a wonderful way to honor the past and acknowledge Ted Lewis’s contributions. Many people don’t realize that Ted Lewis, originally named Theodore Friedman, was the highest-paid entertainer in the United States during the 1930s, and he donated the land for this park. We need to put him back in the park in some way.”
Logan said that you can expect to see some construction to the phase 2 part of the renovations of the park next year. “We’re planning to place the basketball courts in the corner, behind the Veterans Memorial. FORJAK Industries have generously donated these courts and are not included in our funding. They will be standard-length courts, but with an extended width to accommodate six hoops, allowing for half-court play. This setup will be great for younger kids as well as older adults, like myself, who might not be as mobile anymore.
Additionally, the city has been fantastic in installing security cameras to enhance safety, which will hopefully aid in preventing incidents like the arson of the old shelter house. We also plan to renovate the dugouts and the fields which are currently in disrepair, and we aim to update the outfields and the peewee football fields as well.”
“We have great parks in this community, but many of them require a car to reach,” said Logan. “Our mission is to develop parks that can be easily accessed by bike or on foot, allowing families with strollers to enjoy recreation without the need for a vehicle. That is another reason why Ted Lewis Park is so important to the citizens of Circleville.”
