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Senator Roegner Secures Funding for Key Projects in Summit, Stark, and Wayne Counties

Senate To Vote on $3.5 Billion Investment in Ohio's Communities
May 31, 2022
Kristina D. Roegner News
 
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Pictured left to right: Rep. Bill Roemer, "Mr. Derby" Jeff Iula, and Sen. Kristina Roegner, touring Derby Downs in Akron.
COLUMBUS—State Senator Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson) today announced she has secured funding for numerous key projects in Summit County out of the state capital budget.

Three projects will directly benefit the city of Hudson:
  • $75,000 for the historic Boy Scout cabin
  • $65,000 for the Ellsworth Hills Learning Lab
  • $80,000 for Case-Barlow Farm
The historic Boy Scout cabin in downtown Hudson is in considerable disrepair. This $75,000 project will restore this important 100 year-old landmark that has graduated over 125 Eagle Scouts and supplemented countless community-oriented activities. The City of Hudson hopes to continue to cherish this gem for at least another 100 years, and is continually seeking additional uses.

The Hudson City Schools will use $65,000 to create a walking land lab on Ellsworth Hill Elementary campus property, available to both students and the community. The school has a protected wetlands area and is part of the Tinker’s Creek water basin. After-school clubs will be able to incorporate walking and lab activities into their events. Students will be exposed to various biomes, woodlands, prairie, pollinators, rain gardens, and vegetable gardens. The path and plantings along the way will be constructed with Ohio’s learning standards in science, social studies, mathematics, and language arts. The path will also include wild flower gardens, areas for small vernal pools to collect and house salamanders and frog and various plantings that will support the protected wetland.

The local nonprofit Case-Barlow Bicentennial Farm will use $80,000 for the restoration and repair of their original 1831 brick house and other improvements to protect the interior. The farm consists of a restored and period furnished farm house, wagon barn, milk house, and bank barn, situated on just over four acres. The farmstead is a significant cultural and historical facility, the remainder of the almost 500-acre dairy farm that thrived in this location under the care of five generations of the same family. Seasonal rental of the farm house and barn generates much needed funds that are put back into the ongoing maintenance and improvement of its historic buildings.

Roegner also secured $338,000 to make key improvements to Glen Chamberlain Park, one of Twinsburg's more heavily used parks that includes a playground, basketball court, and two tennis courts. The park is also the primary location for TwinsDay festival and many other City-wide events. This project will remove barriers for patrons in wheelchairs or seniors with limited mobility. A network of concrete sidewalks will be constructed that will surround and border the grass seating areas to allow handicap access to different areas of the venue. The money will also be used to replace 40-year-old playground equipment, and demolish and replace the 30-year old bathroom facility that services the general park grounds, playground, pavilions and amphitheater guests.

"I am thrilled we were able to obtain so much funding for so many worthwhile projects in our district," said Roegner. "From restoring historic landmarks to advancing the quality of our education, we are helping ensure a bright future for generations to come."

Senator Roegner also made sure continued funding will be provided for three other items important to the county and the community:
  • Blossom Music Center
  • Hale Farm and Village
  • The Soap Box Derby
The Cranz Farm Inn and Event Center at Hale Farm & Village is northern Ohio’s premier outdoor living history museum. The project will renovate and repurpose the historic Cranz Farm, a mid-19th century farmhouse and outbuildings, as a one-of-a-kind venue for overnight stays, private parties, events, organizational and corporate retreats, and tent camping.

The International Soap Box Derby has been an institution in Akron for nearly a century, and has evolved over time into not just a race competition but a fun and unique way to educate the young competitors on STEM concepts that they can put to use in the competition and real life. Money secured by Roegner will help repave several parking lots at the facility; install permanent restrooms; undertake entranceway and signage improvements; construct new storage, Hall of Fame, education and parts buildings, and other much-needed site improvements.

The State Senate will vote on the proposed capital budget this week, a $3,514,304,978 billion investment in Ohio's infrastructure and local community projects.

The legislature generally approves a capital budget every two years, and the bill funds needed improvements to public services and facilities across the state, including schools, roads and bridges, and mental health and addiction facilities.

These are all the projects with capital budget funding secured by Senator Roegner, listed by county: Summit County
(Senate Districts 27 & 28)
  • Blossom Music Hall $1,500,000
  • Akron Area YMCA Camp Y-Noah $1,000,000
  • Copley Ridgewood Trail $750,000
  • International Soap Box Derby $500,000
  • Stan Hywet Hall & Garden $500,000
  • Akron Art Museum-Center for Creative Learning $500,000
  • Twinsburg Glen Chamberlain Park $338,000
  • New Franklin Tudor House $300,000
  • Green Township Willadale Trail-Boettler/Southgate Connector $275,000
  • Cranz Farm at Hale Farm and Village $250,000
  • Peninsula STEM Center of Excellence $250,000
  • CHC Addiction Services $250,000
  • Summit County Fairgrounds $250,000
  • Akron Rehabilitation Services Renovation $150,000
  • North Fork Preserve of Bath $120,000
  • Akron Zoo Additional Animal Housing $100,000
  • Case Barlow Farm $80,000
  • Hudson Historic Boy Scout Cabin $75,000
  • Shaw Jewish Community Center $75,000
  • Hudson Ellsworth Hills Learning Lab $65,000
  • Richfield Oviatt House $50,000
  • Peninsula G.A.R. Hall Historic Rehabilitation $50,000
Stark County
(Senate Districts 27 & 29)
  • Pro Football Hall of Fame $1,000,000
  • Stark Parks Magnolia Flouring Mill Public Access $571,000
  • ArtsinStark Park $500,000
  • Canton Township Palace Theater $500,000
  • Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital Cancer center $500,000
  • Canal Fulton Community Park $300,000
  • Canton Township Faircrest Park $300,000
  • Jackson Amphitheater $300,000
  • Massillon Park Splash Pad $300,000
  • North Canton Dogwood Pool House $300,000
  • Plain Township Diamond Park historic barn $300,000
  • Perry Township Meredith Park $300,000
  • Timken Gatehouse renovation $250,000
  • Louisville Metzger Park $250,000
  • Junior Achievement North Central Ohio Building $250,000
  • McKinley Presidential Library upgrades $171,000
  • East Canton Powell Education Center $150,000
  • Hartville Pegasus Farm $150,000
  • Navarre Park $150,000
  • Alliance Thompson- Snodgrass Park $125,000
  • Alliance Memorial Park $125,000
  • Massillon Museum fire monitoring system $68,000
  • Massillon SAM Center upgrades $50,000
  • Massillon Spring Hill $50,000
  • Massillon Genoa One Room School House $40,000
Wayne County
  • Wooster Lyric Theater Renovation $500,000
  • Creston Community Park Renovations $300,000
  • Wooster Barnes Preserve $250,000
  • Orrville Market West Historic Area $250,000
  • Orrville Boys and Girls Club- HVAC and roof repair $75,000
  • Doylestown Memorial Park $50,000
Once approved by both chambers, the bill will go to Governor Mike DeWine for his signature.