Orange Township will celebrate its bicentennial Sunday, Oct. 9 with a naming ceremony and dedication of the trail bridge park and a fire department open house.
Township officials will dedicate the day to Luella Martin Yarnell. “Luella’s family has lived in Orange Township a long time,” said Amanda Sheterom, human resources and communications manager. “She went to Orange School when it was 1-12.”
“She wrote a book about the township, ‘History of Orange Township in Delaware County, Ohio,’” Sheterom said. “Her son Ken said his family has printed approximately 20 extra books and they will be for sale at the event.”
The ceremony will take place at the park located on the east side of U.S. 23 next to the trail bridge from 1-2 p.m. Sunday.
“There are quite a few activities planned” she said.
Sheterom said officials held a naming contest to get the community’s ideas on naming the 1½-acre park. The name will be unveiled at the ceremony. “The park board will talk on how the was picked,” she said.
According to Sheterom, a time capsule will be buried as part of the ceremony with instructions for it to be opened October 9, 2116. “The deadline for anyone wanting to donate stuff for the time capsule is 4:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 7,” she said.
Other planned events for the day at the park are a flag ceremony and the dedication, an official resolution from the township’s trustees that is to be read by Trustee Debbie Taranto. A proclamation from the county commissioners and a letter of recognition from U.S. Rep. Pat Tiberi (R) Genoa Township will be read, said Sheterom. “After the ceremony everyone will be invited to the fire stations for an open house,” she said, “It’s to kick off Fire Prevention Week.”
The event will be held regardless of weather.
A brochure from the park board describes the new park to be a resting area on the trail system that’s equipped with a shelter, picnic tables, drinking fountain, bike racks, parking spaces and landscaping.
Beth Hugh, park maintenance director, told The Gazette earlier this year, “The trail goes all the way to the railroad tracks from the back of North Orange Park,” Hugh said. “The parks master plan calls for the trail to go all the way to Alum Creek State Park in the future.”
Hugh said the plan to cross the railroad tracks and go all the way to Alum Creek is currently in progress.
