Staff photo / Bob Coupland McDonald Mayor Ray Lewis, left, and Neil Thompson, marketing department manager for the Ohio History Connection, look over placards, photos and other items from the former McDonald Steel Mill Friday. The Ohio History Connection presented a check for nearly $17,000 for a planned storybook-style walk called McDonald Millworkers Trail Project which will showcase the history of the mills of McDonald and Mahoning Valley.

McDONALD — Wanting to showcase the history of the mills that existed for years in the village, McDonald officials are proceeding with a storybook-style historic walkway in Woodland Park.

To help with that project, the Ohio History Connection presented a $16,696 check Friday at a gathering held at the park with local and state officials.

Mayor Ray Lewis said the funds will be used for revitalization work at Woodland Park and for creating the McDonald Millworkers Trail Project.

“We can’t be more thrilled to start this project,” he said.

The revitalization includes new playground equipment and improving recreational trails.

Lewis the village was founded in 1918 by the Carnegie Steel Corp. with the community built around the mill. Land was donated by the mill for a park to be used by the mill employees and families.

“We came up with the idea of having a recreational storybook trail to pay homage to the mill workers of not just McDonald, but the Mahoning Valley. There will be a 10-stop trail about a mile long that will snake through Woodland Park. Each stop will have a story on a placard,” Lewis said.

Matthew Ellis of KO Consulting said the trail will take people on the 105-year history of McDonald Works and the McDonald Steel Corp. and detail how industrialization not only affected McDonald but the entire Mahoning Valley.

“This will tell the wonderful story of how the McDonald Steel Corp. came to be. They created a profitable company here until 2023 when it closed down. The structure was demolished in 2025. This is the first time in 105 years that Ohio Avenue has an open opportunity and a blank slate for something new to be here in the village,” Ellis said.

Lewis said with the different spots on the trail there will be community input.

He said there will be QR codes that link to podcasts, stories and pictures.

“This will be a fluent piece of history that we will be able to add to. This will take the history of this village and create interest for everyone,” Lewis said.

He said the project will begin this year and be completed for 2027.

Doug Soper with Applied Partners McDonald LLC purchased the mill property to recycle the material there and find a new user for the land.

He has donated items from the property to the Mahoning Valley Historical Society and McDonald Historical Society.

Lewis said the company donated hundreds of old templates from the rolling mill which are available to the public by contacting the administration building.

“They may look like a piece of wood but think of all the hands that have touched them over the years,” he said.

Neil Thompson, marketing department manager for the Ohio History Connection, said the check is part of a grant program that supports preservation and local history projects.

He said the Ohio History Connection grant fund program is done annually and funded by Ohio taxpayers through voluntary contributions.

The contributions can be made on state income tax forms, Thompson said.

“This is a program that is really powered by Ohioans for Ohioans. We do take applicants. We support preservation and local history in communities across Ohio.” he said.

Thompson said the Ohio History Connection wants to protect historical stories and information for future generations.

He said it is a very competitive application process to receive funds.

Thompson said 60 projects were submitted this year for funding with each judged on merits of how significant this is to local history, local cultural impact and preservation.

He said this year $196,657 was awarded for 15 various projects.

Since the program was established in 2012, a total of more than $1,8 million has been awarded for 164 projects.