Needed improvements to Hancock Park are being explored by Leland Public School.
The Board of Education voted to hire the Celina, Ohio of Fanning Howey, an integrated architecture/engineering firm who specialize in K-12 and higher ed facilities, specifically athletic complexes and fields. Their bid was $21,027.
“Our varsity soccer field is in dire need of a redesign and we have a big groups of kids playing baseball, participating in track and field, and running cross country with no where to play or practice,” Superintendent Stephanie Long said.
Hancock Park belongs to Leland Township. However, it is operated cooperatively by the township and Leland Public School.
According to Clerk Lisa Brookfield, the township and school split the cost of fertilizing the fields and maintaining bathroom facilities. The township mows the facility.
Since about 2021, Hancock Park has been the topic of much discussion at township board meetings. In the spring of 2020, a group of parents approached the board about improvements to the baseball field at the park which hasn’t seen much use the past several years. The following December the board approved a proposal to set up an ice skating rink at the park.
About half of the 15-acre park is developed with the remainder wooded. In addition to soccer fields, there has been support for reconstruction of the baseball diamonds and a walking trail among others.
