GIRARD — While it may have the name Liberty Memorial Park, the large park off Mosier Road and Elruth Drive is used for a variety of activities and events as part of the city of Girard.

The park is marking a special milestone this year of 100 years of providing a place for recreation and enjoyment in the community.

Park Director Mike Cardiero said groundbreaking for the park was in 1921, with the park dedicated in 1926.

He said originally, a 100-year celebration was to take place over Memorial Day weekend, but rain changed the plans. Different activities and events are being planned this summer such as concerts in the park.

The park includes a disc golf course added in April 2025, children’s play areas, scout cabin, picnic areas, a stream and soccer fields.

Cardiero said disc golf has been very popular, with large crowds attending. He said the high school cross country teams run in the park and have home meets there.

“People tell me they like the natural park setting,” he said.

He said in the spring, summer and fall, there are a lot of people at the park walking their dogs, or attending sporting events and family gatherings.

“I am privileged and honored to be the caretaker of the park my father played at, I played at and my children played at,” Cardiero said.

Resident Joseph Irilli, who lives near the park, said he grew up in Girard and remembers the popular swimming pool at the park.

“The swimming pool was a popular spot for all the teenagers in the summer. When I was in elementary school, our classes would come to the park for picnics and different activities. The park was a wonderful place to grow up in and the place to be in the summertime,” Irilli said.

He said he also remembers the tennis courts and horseshoe pits.

He said he remembers for many years, a group of women in a garden club would plant flowers at the park and maintain it very well. Irilli said a women’s group from the Girard Methodist Church also helped plant flowers.

Irilli said the park originally was 60 acres, but has been scaled back for local apartments and homes.

Mayor Mark Zuppo said he also remembers the swimming pool at the park, noting the pool was on a hill and people walked up metal stairs to get to it.

PARK NAME

Irilli said the name Liberty Memorial Park came after the park was founded by World War I veterans.

“They wanted to name the park after having secured liberty for all the people in Europe during World War I that they would name it Liberty Memorial Park to honor what the veterans did,” he said.

He said it was a community park for Liberty and Girard.

Irilli said the park was located in Liberty Township until 1972, when it was annexed into Girard. A large memorial sits at the park that was erected following World War I.

Zuppo said when he joined city council in the 1990s, the city made efforts to get a park levy passed, but it did not happen.

He said his father used to take 25-cent tickets at the swimming pool for people to swim.

“I remember myself at the pool and WHOT blaring over the public address system. I hear certain songs today that remind me of being at the swimming pool,” Zuppo said.

He said the large, round pool closed in 1967.

Zuppo said the pool was vandalized and would have cost more than $15,000 to fix.

He said all the public and parochial school picnics were at the park, where students used to play mush ball.

Irilli said at one time there was a railway at the park property with the Vienna Liberty Railroad traveling through with coal from the mines. He said coal was mined in Liberty and Coalburg.

Irilli said the Little Squaw Creek runs through the park.

“This park is a wonderful legacy for the community and for future generations to use,” Irilli said.

Zuppo said he appreciates how the city can keep the natural beauty of the park. Cardiero said to help beautify the park, Troop 80739 Brownies and Daisies placed plants around the historic park markers from funds they received from the Trumbull County Moose Lodge.

Cardiero said the park is home to different wildlife such as foxes, barred owls and hawks.

Rick McCracken of Girard, who lives near the park, said he enjoys riding his bike there.

He said he brought his own sons to the park and now brings his grandchildren

“They like playing by the creek. I like how families come here and have fun,” he said.

Barb Keeler of Girard said she comes to the park to walk and when her family visits, she brings them to the park.

“This park is one of the city’s best-kept secrets,” Keeler said.

Holly Moulton of Allentown, Pa., said when she visits relatives in Girard, she likes coming to the park.

“It’s a very nice place. I see many people walking and running,” she said.