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McDONALD -- This fall residents will have the opportunity to play disc golf as a course will soon be under construction at Woodland Park.
Mayor Ray Lewis said that Turbo Putt Disc Golf has donated installation of the 9-hole disc golf course with work to be in a few weeks.
He said there is no cost to the village for the course.
The course will take players through different parts of the park, including the wooded areas and near Billy Goat Hill. Those areas will be incorporated into the course without being touched.
"I have never played disc golf, but am excited to be able to play it. The players will be able to go up and down some hills," Lewis said.
Councilmembers said they look forward to the smaller-scale disc golf course being used during the annual Oktoberfest.
Brad Silvers, with Turbo Putt Disc Golf, spoke last spring to council about being able to put in a scaled-back disc golf course with 10 baskets.
Silvers, who has done disc golf courses in Niles, Howland and Warren, said this year he can lease the baskets for a semi-permanent course to the village, which may consider having a full-scale disc golf course in the future.
"I would like the village to begin with a family-friendly disc golf course to get the community involved. All ages can play disc golf," Silvers said, noting the longest hole would be 300 feet.
MILLWORKERS TRAIL
Also to be placed at Woodland Park is the Millworkers Trail, which will have signs posted along the trail highlighting the mills and industry of the village.
Lewis said the trail will be the first of its kind in the state.
Wanting to showcase the history of the mills that existed for years in the village, McDonald officials approved earlier this year proceeding with a storybook-style historic walkway in the park.
To help with that project, the Ohio History Connection presented a $16,696 check to the village last spring.
Lewis said the funds will be used for revitalization work at Woodland Park and for creating the trail.
Lewis said McDonald 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," Lewis said. "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."
Matthew Ellis of KO Consulting had said the trail will take people on the 105-year history of McDonald Works of U.S. Steel and the McDonald Steel Corp. and detail how industrialization affected McDonald and the entire Mahoning Valley.
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.
OTHER GRANTS
Lewis said the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has awarded the village a water safety grant for $10,000 for three water bottle filling stations to be placed in the park and replacing water fountains.
He said they should be installed before fall.
NEW COUNCILMAN
Marty Puckett, who had previously served as a councilman and as mayor of the village, was officially sworn in as a new councilmember to fill the remainder of the term on Don Smith, who left the position in July as he moved to Florida.
Puckett will serve through December 2027,
He was appointed by Lewis to be chairman of the finance committee and will serve on the safety committee.
Councilman Joe Sanson will serve as the chairman of the levy exploration committee and the service committee, on which Smith had served.
Council President Sean Schmidt welcomed Puckett back to council.
Resident Dylan Bigelow was appointed to serve on the board of zoning appeals to fill an opening.
Council also accepted the resignation of Antony Moore from the fire department as he has accepted a full-time position with the Girard Fire Department.
Officials also announced the annual Billy Goat Run event will take place Aug. 29 at Woodland Park.