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As we greet spring and look forward to the year 2025, many new happenings/scenes are evident at Firestone Park. The park is literally abloom wit daffodils and tulips, the crab apple trees along Mirror Lake are brilliant, and the many, many plantings/beds designed by Terra Design during the restoration years are coming to maturity. The addition of night lighting at the Idabelle Firestone Gathering Place and Gardens is also a pleasant surprise if you take an evening drive through the park. Trips along the Walking Trail are enhanced by the new plantings, bird houses, and a glance at the Dog Park shows newly-stained fences. A new small pavilion looks out on Mirror Lake now, and work is hopefully underway for the new Senior Courts which will feature Corn Hole, Bocce and Shuffleboard. The kiosk at the pool parking lot now features a helpful map, as well as a weekly listing of park events.
Fall 2024 saw the dedication of the new football stadium dedicated to the original Columbiana Clipper "Dick Sonny Fisher" and the Fisher and the Fisher family of athletes. Phase Two is on hold while the Booster Club and the city work out issues with a much-needed sewer repair adjacent to the field. A new restroom was added to Mirror Lake Pavilion for use by the Sports Courts groups.
The Project Playground committee is continuing work on fundraising for the newly-designed playground. And, a new series of events are planned for Summer/Fall.
The Columbiana County Foundation continued to play its role in awarding grants to a number of park projects. Both concert groups, the Sunday afternoon gazebo organization, as well as the Idabelle's Gathering Place Firestone Concerts were awarded helpful grants for their summer and fall programs. The softball organization also received grant money for needed repairs, and Bob Spaite's Twelfth Man group was granted money to bring the football field up to a better condition for this fall's Clipper season.
The Project Playground committee received a generous grant for a welcoming center section of the new facility. The Restoration and Beautification Committee received two grants: one for completion of the Pollinator Gardens at Maple Grove Pavilion and another for their fall Firestone concerts detailed below.
The new 501c3 group, Firestone Park Cultural and Custodial Committee, will be hosting its third season of the free Idabelle Firestone Fall Concert Series. Highlighted by a second-year appearance of the phenomenally-popular Texas Tenors, the Oak-Street String Band, The Keller Family Singers, Sassa Brass, the Firestone Symphony Orchestra, the Keystone State Gospel Quartet, and the Ballet Western Reserve. The concerts begin on August 31st and extend through September.
The same group, the Firestone Park Cultural and Custodial Committee, is also sponsoring a series of plant/gardening workshops throughout the summer months. These include Crafting an Herb Garden (May 14), Walking a Whimsy Way complete with Decorator Chickens (June 18), a Visit to the Gardens at Hippley Village (July 16), Buzzin' About the Pollinator Gardens (Aug. 6), Hands on Pruning Workshop (Aug. 20), and A Field to Table Presentation on Sept. 17. Reservations needed (Pat Tingle at 330-207-1470).
And finally, for the first time at Idabelle's Gathering Place, an Art Show called the "Art in Her Heart - The idabelle Firestone Fine Art Show" on Aug. 23 from 10 am to 4 pm will be held. Organized by local artist, Shari Fry, and Mark Hamilton of Source Gallery in Lisbon, the show is free and open to the public. Both the gardening workshops and free concert series are a tribute to Idabelle Firestone's love of gardening and music which we honor with these yearly events.
Lastly, we (the Restoration and Beautification and the Firestone Park Cultura and Custodial Committee) announce the opening of a new building at 246 E. Park Ave. The sign going up in early May gives the name of a new facility dedicated to the Firestone Legacy and the support of the Firestone Park.
The Firestone Legacy and Visitor Center houses two support committees, Restoration and Beautification and the Firestone Cultural and Custodial Committee. It was purchased by the Bradford and Patricia Tingle Family Foundation and is dedicated to building support for the newly-renovated park and its cultural development and landscape maintenance. It also will provide a visitor center and a new support group in time called "Friends of the Park." It is a private enterprise.
For more information visit on the Idabelle concerts, visit Facebook at Firestone Park Cultural & Collective Committee 2025 Idabelle Concert Series, call 234-855-9138 or email IdabelleFallConcerts@gmail.com. Stay tuned to Facebook in the near future for more specific information on the coming Art Show.