BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      Meeting last week, Boardman Park Director Gabe Manginelli and Community Outreach/Recreation Director Karen McCallum addressed the Boardman Township Board of Trustees.
      Manginelli assumed the directorship of the park earlier this year following the retirement of longtime superintendent Daniel Slagle.
      “Moving forward, we will be working as a team,” Manginelli said, adding that he, McCallum and Office Manager Angela Davis will lead the park district.
      “Angela will help to insure that we maintain the conservative budgeting that we have been known for,” Manginelli said, adding “While we may be one park, it will not be a single vision leading us forward. We will be working as a team, in conjunction with the community to insure we deliver the recreational benefits it deserves.”
      The park director informed the Board of Trustees improvements will be made at the Maag Outdoor Arts Theatre, including installation of new restroom facilities and improved lighting for added safety of people in the park during night hours.
      Cost of the improvements is about $330,000 and Manginelli said the park district has received a $150,000 grant from Mahoning County Commissioners and a $25,000 donation from the Boardman Rotary Club in support of the improvement.
      He added another project will be the completion of waterproofing at historic Olde St. James Meeting House.
      “We have had an intermittent water issue and it has finally come to the point that we have to address it before larger issues occur,” Manginelli said.
      The park director noted preparations are already underway for Boardman Township’s annual Memorial Day observance, including work on flower beds and lawn clean-up.
      He added the grounds of the Southern Park Stables and Smith Homestead will be enhanced, and the park district is working on developing programming at the homestead.
      McCallum told the Board of Trustees the park district’s annual father-daughter dance held in February was sold-out for its five day run, and attendance has increased at senior citizen lunches at the Georgeanna Parker Activity Center, as well as Senior Citizen Fun Days at the Communiy Center.
      McCallum noted the annual Music in the Park concert series will open June 8 and run through Aug. 17.
      There will be fireworks displays at the park on July 8, as well as Sept. 9 when a Community Day celebration is held
      Manginelli said anyone who wants to learn about park program can call the district at 330-726-8107, or visit the web at https://www.boardmanpark.com
      In other matters at last week’s Board of Trustees meeting, CT Consultants was hired to provide engineering inspection services for the township’s 2023 road resurfacing program at a cost of $49,915.
      Road Superintendent Marilyn Kenner said cost of this year road resfuracing program will be approximately $1.9 million.
      Boased upon the recommendation of Police Chief Todd Werth, Trustees authorized the purchase of Emergency Medical Dispatch software, licensing and a training module from the APCO Insitute at a cost of $41,000.
      “This will equip and cerify the police department’s communication center with the ability to dispatch medical calls,” Chief Werth said.
      Trustee Tom Costello noted he was in attendance at recent ribbon cutting ceremonies fora $31 million expansion of the emergency room at Akron Children’s Hospital.
      Noting that ACH employs upwards of 500 people, Costello said the capital improvement project was “extremely impressive. To have that facility in Boardman Township is a blessing.”
      Music In The Park 2023 Concerts
      June 8..................................BHS 2K23
      June 15...............................Celebration
      June 22.........................Guys Without Ties
      July 6....................................Decades
      July 8..............(Independence Day Celebration)
      Salem Quaker City Band
      June 13...............................Del Sinchak
      July 20............Boardman High School Jazz Band
      July 23.....Y-town Area Community Concert Band
      July 27.............................Wrangler Band
      August 3....................Girard Swingtime Band
      August 10.........................John Reese Trio
      August 17..........................Dueling Pianos