BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      Boardman Park is observing its 75th anniversary this year.
      It was during the November, 1947 general elections that Boardman Township voters approved the establishment of a ‘free township park.’ The measure created Boardman Park, but did not approve any funds to operate such a park. Creation of Boardman Park was also approved after William F. Maag Jr. donated 72 acres of land for use as a public park, then situated in between the home of Justice of the Peace Edgar G. Diehm and some 50 acres of land that was to be used as radio transmitters for WFMJ.
      Named to the first Board of Park Commissioners were Lewis Barger, Hugh Manchester and Ralph P. Smith, who the following year placed a 1-mil tax levy on the ballot to provide funding for the park; while Chet Long and Walter Damon drew-up plans for picnic areas, roadways, fireplaces and pathways.
      “We want to utilize natural beauty and avoid any ‘formal’ park,” Barger said at the time.
      In 1948 the park district’s first real property tax levy was approved, which was a 1-mill levy, and 75 years later, Boardman Park continues to operate maintain, preserve, and improve the park on the equivalent of that levy.
      The size of the park has more than quadrupled since 1947, where today the park provides 60 acres for active recreational purposes and preserves 234 acres as green space and natural habitat.
      Following approval of the tax levy, Homer V. Holl was named the first superintendent of Boardman Park. He served until 1952. During his tenure, the first open-air pavilion, Edgewood, was constructed; and the park purchased it first tractor for $1,596.
      In addition, a baseball field was constructed with support from the Boardman Athletic Association; as well as a playground for children with equipment purchased for the site provided by the Boardman Kiwanis Club. The first baseball diamond in Boardman Park served as home field for Boardman High School baseball games, and as well for Boardman Little League (that first played there in 1955. Among those who played on that diamond were former Major League pitcher Lamar Jacobs and former New York Jets quarterback Joe ‘Willie’ Namath).
      When Mr. Holl stepped down as superintendent, Chuck Wedekind was named as his replacement, serving just two years before becoming superintendent of Mill Creek Park.
      He was replaced by Ivor N. Jenkins, who served as superintendent until 1975. During his tenure, in 1972, Olde St. James Church, among the oldest Episcopal church buildings east of the Mississippi River, was moved to Boardman Park and now graces its entrance off Boardman-Poland Rd. At one time the lawn in front of the church featured thousands of daffodils that bloomed in the springtime.
      When Jenkins exited as park superintendent, John Holzbach was named as his replacment. He served until 1992. During his tenure, Boardman Township observed the nation’s bicentennial and held observances at the park, attended by more than 10,000 people. The bicentennial observance cleared the way for Boardman Rotary Club’s annual Oktoberfest. (Prior to the bicentennial, large gatherings at the park were often spurned, as former superintendents Jenkins, and Holzbach expressed concerns the landscaping would be damaged by large crowds).
      Also during Holzbach’s tenure, the first Maple Syrup Festival was held at Boardman Park, in 1981; and two historic township homes were relocated to the park.
      In June, 1992, the park’s current superintendent, Daniel N. Slagle Jr., was appointed to the post (now called executive director).
      Mr. Slagle’s pledge was to improve programming at the park and one of his first efforts was to develop a master plan that reflected the mission statement of the district --- “To provide a diversity of recreational and educational opportunities in an environment that lends itself to pleasant family experience, and to preserve areas of natural habitat.”
      Under his tenure, a many capital inprovement projects have been completed --- with the support and generosity of the community, including Kids’ Town and Tot’s Town playgrounds, the Maag Outdoor Arts Theatre, Marge Hartman’s Paws Town, Elton Beard Family Cabin, Kenneth Hofmaster Pavilion, Hike & Bike Trail, a Veterans Memorial and the Lariccia Family Community Center. The park has also served as home for the annual Easter Egg Hunt of the Boardman Kiwanis Club, and provides a variety of activities every Halloween and as well, a Community Christmas celebration.
      On June 11, 1993, Janie S. Jenkins donated her property, the former Southern Park Stables, to Boardman Park. The site is the last remnant of the Southern Park Race Track. Established in 1908, Southern Park was a sports landmark in the area and consisted of 55 acres with a half-mile race track, numerous barns, a grandstand, flower gardens, picnic areas and a baseball field. Located approximately a mile and one-half south of Boardman Center (bounded by Market St., Washington Blvd. Southern Blvd. and McClurg Rd.) it was the enterprise of Senator David Tod, David Tod Arrel and H.H. Stambaugh. The race track was a popular site for high school track meets and thoroughbred horse racing, drawing crowds of more than 15,000 people during its heyday. In the early 1920s, a blimp landed at the track, attracting thousands of spectators. In 1986 the Southern Stables was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, one of two such sites maintained by Boardman Park (the other is Olde St. James Church).
      “On behalf of the Board of Park Commissioners---Joyce Mistovich, Trent Cailor and Ken Goldsboro---and our staff, we would like to express our deepest gratitude for the community’s ongoing support and appreciation of the Green Oasis and its mission.
      “Our purpose is to create wholesome opportunities to live and interact with family, friends, neighbors, and communities.
      “The park offers a variety of recreational facilities and programs year-round that enhance the quality of life for the Community it so proudly serves. The Green Oasis also provides environmental benefits to our community such as mitigating stormwater run-off, preserving wildlife habitats and protecting wetlands,” Executive Director Slagle said.
      There is one, great mystery surrounding Boardman Park---a rock said to be engraved with the initials ‘EB.’ The rock was said to be placed at Boardman Centre (now Rt. 224 and Market St.) when the founder of Boardman Township, Sen. Elijah Boardman, came here in 1798 from Milford, Conneticut. It was last seen in Boardman Park when Ivor Jenkins was superintendent.
      75 years after it was formed, an estimated 500,000 people visit Boardman Park annually.
      “We believe that the continued increase in the number of visitors clearly demonstrates that Boardman Park is one of the most popular areas for family recreation in the Mahoning Valley. The popularity of the park can be attributed to our community’s positive response and enthusiastic participation in the diverse and multigenerational programs we offer year-round, as well as our unique footprint of recreational facilities. Visitors can enjoy reservable indoor rooms and outdoor pavilions, tennis, pickle ball, and sand volleyball, baseball fields, an 18-hole disc golf course, bocce courts, Marge Hartman’s Paws Town dog park and four miles of ADA accessible walking trails that transverse the natural areas of the park,” Slagle said.
      Boardman Park operates on an annual budget of about $1.3 million.
      Property tax collections (still on the equivalent of the original 1947 levy) account for $765,694 of the park district’s revenues; and an indication of the many facilities are rented each year for family and special events, $370,120 in revenue comes from ‘charges for services,’ according to the Ohio Auditor of State.