Fling brings crowd to city’s newest recreational facility

ThisWeek UA 5/26/2011

http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/upperarlington/stories/2011/05/25/fling-brings-crowd-to-citys-newest-recreational-facility.html?sid=104

After weeks of rainy weather, a summery Saturday brought a crowd of 2,000 out for Upper Arlington’s Spring Fling event at Sunny 95 Park May 21.

The festive atmosphere was punctuated by the key presentation ceremony at noon, where the Upper Arlington Community Foundation officially gave ownership of the Amelita Mirolo Barn to the city.

“This is a tremendously exciting event,” city council member Ed Seidel said. “It’s so nice to be able to share a new facility and green space with our city.”

Bob Ness, incoming Upper Arlington Community Foundation board chair, opened the ceremony by welcoming the crowd.

“The opportunity to combine this historically significant structure with public space for everyone’s enjoyment was what really inspired the community foundation,” Ness said. “I’m so thankful to all of the donors. We managed to raise over two-thirds of the money for the project before completing it, thanks to the more than 250 families that donated.”

Ness said that the foundation is still working to raise the final $125,000 necessary to pay off the project debt. According to the foundation and city officials, the project was completed under budget and on time.

City council member Mary Ann Krauss, also a member of the foundation board, said she was surprised by how quickly the project came together.

“We had the historic, handcrafted beams of this barn, and we had a beautiful new park, but we had no idea how quickly it would all come together,” Krauss said. “This is the largest gift given to our city by an one entity. Today we celebrate the opening of the barn, and the can-do attitude of the people of Upper Arlington.”

The barn features 3,700 square feet of interior space available for event rental as well as an outdoor garden and amphitheater, which was used for Saturday’s ceremony and will be the permanent home of the city’s Music in the Park series.

Outgoing Upper Arlington Community Foundation board chair Debbie Phillips Bower presented city manager Virginia Barney with a ceremonial, hand-carved key.

“To see all of the kids here, the community here, that is what this is all about – community and family – I think that is exactly what makes Upper Arlington so special,” Bower said.

Ness agreed with Bower.

“It’s been a great opportunity for the Upper Arlington Community Foundation to create this permanent fixture for the community that anchors the foundation further in the city, and it’s going to be a great facility for both young and old alike,” Ness said. “I’ve found that by giving what I can to this organization, I get so much back from the people I meet in our community.”

After accepting the key to the barn from Bower, Barney led the crowd in a cheer of U-A-O-H.

“I’m so delighted to accept this gift, I’m sure this key will open up wonderful opportunities for our community,” Barney said.

Event reservations for the Amelita Mirolo Barn can be scheduled through the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. For more information, visit www.uaoh.net.