Residents saw major improvements and additions to their local parks in 2025.

In Niles, the biggest addition was the opening of a splash pad and children’s playground area off Sharkey Drive at Waddell Park. The splash pad replaced the former Waddell swimming pool, which closed more than a decade ago.

Park Director Mark Pallante said there also is a new gazebo at the park and four new turf playing fields. Paving was done on Sharkey Drive and other roads in the park, as well as the pickleball courts and tennis courts.

He said the total cost for all the work at Waddell Park was more than $4.5 million.

The city bonded in $2 million while federal grant money through the Department of Transportation and HUD covered the rest.

Also, a walking track around the football field at the park has been completed.

Pallante said at Stevens Park, the new disc golf course that opened in late 2024 has been very well used. Pallante said concrete pads will be installed at the disc golf course this year.

He said concrete pads for holes 1-9 are in the park budget for 2026 and the remainder in the budget for 2027. He said quotes are expected to be more than $3,000.

He said the disc golf course is used throughout the year.

Disc golf is also offered at Howland Township Park, at the Trumbull MetroParks by Kent State at Trumbull and at Mosquito Lake Park.

Niles Park board members Harry Salapata and Heidi Barker said Stevens Park saw resurfacing of the pickleball courts and tennis courts. Fencing was installed around the tennis and pickleball courts with trees and stumps near the courts removed.

Improvements at Iowa Park included new swingsets and a basketball court.

For Kennedy Park, officials are looking at a playground area, with grants to be sought.

For 2026, the parks have $500 in the budget for the dog park at Waddell to see what can be added, such as a dog waste can area.

Pallante said North Field at Waddell Park needs fencing replacement at the dugout area and ponyfields. He said there is $25,000 available for turning a former children’s play area at Waddell Park into two pickleball courts and two bocce courts,

Also for Waddell, officials said there is need to replace the 17-year old turf inside the wellness center. Pallante estimates the cost between $160,000 and $200,000.

For Riverside Park under the Niles viaduct, plans are for improvements such as a gazebo.

Pallante said the park board will begin updating a park comprehensive plan this year to continue improvements.

“We have been working on the comprehensive plan for years,” he said.

GIRARD DISC GOLF

In Girard, an 18-hole disc golf course was added last spring to Girard’s Liberty Park.

Mayor Mark Zuppo said the city began planning the course in 2024. Baskets for the course are located throughout the park.

Zuppo said he championed the development of a disc golf course after residents had asked him to have one for the city similar to those found in other communities such as Niles.

He said the disc golf course provides an additional recreational option for residents who may not play basketball or baseball. Zuppo said the projects cost less than $10,000, making it an affordable addition. New bocce courts were added at Tod Park this year.

City officials have also discussed a dog park and skate park with costs for such items being reviewed.

HOWLAND PARK WORK

In Howland, extensive remodeling and improvements were done in 2024 and 2025 at the Richard E. Orwig Park off East Market Street

Park board member Shawn Pompelia said the project was in collaboration with the township and school district.

Pompelia said the board took on the project and met with township officials. They were able to raise $50,000 to cover costs for the improvements.

“The money was used to revitalize Orwig Park for the betterment of the community,” he said.

A special plaque was dedicated to honor Richard Orwig, who served as a township trustee for 32 years and a school board member for 16 years.

The more than $35,000 project included new lighting, new trees, landscaping, picnic tables, water fountain updates, gazebo repairs, new grass, benches, water filling station for people and a water station for dogs.

He said no taxpayer dollars were used for the project and it all came from donations from many individuals, businesses and organizations.

For 2026, the park board is looking at a new pickleball court at the main park where the old basketball courts were located, replacing the rubber surface below the playground at the main park and resurfacing the Bolindale Park pickleball court.