Tuscora’s Park Place reopened with an expanded role
Holly Claus has been working for the past year to remake the interior of the facility into a youth center for kids of all ages and their families and serve as a welcome center for visitors to Tuscora Park.
A year-long closure due to the pandemic for the new Park Place Youth Center at Tuscora Park in New Philadelphia ended Friday, May 28. All visitors to the park are invited to enter Park Place to see the transformation that has taken place since the COVID-19 shutdown in March 2020.
Park Place is operated by the nonprofit organization, RTY Inc., which also operates the park’s amusement rides, concessions and catering service, and the Summer Showcase concerts at the amphitheater.
The park’s pools and rides, along with Park Place Youth Center, are open. Park Place’s summer hours are Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Park Place operated for 20 years as a social center for teens coming in after school and on weekends. Park Place is set to reopen with an expanded scope of services for children of all ages and their families, according to JJ Boroski, RTY board chairman.
“The retirement of Park Place director Sam Hitchcock last year, combined with the year-long pandemic shutdown, prompted RTY and city officials to look at this unique facility and the resources available to serve youth in the community,” Boroski said. “We felt that re-opening Park Place as a gateway to the park and a site for fun and educational activities would serve a much wider range of people of all ages.”
Boroski said a significant portion of the Park Place operating budget continues to be funded through an endowment established by the late Max and Erma Miller through the Tuscarawas County Community Foundation. The Millers also donated the funds to build Park Place 21 years ago.
To make this transition, RTY hired Holly Claus, a native of Canton, to serve as the new director. The first task was to convert the inside of Park Place from an entertainment venue geared for teenagers to a more adaptable facility to present educational and recreational opportunities for children of all ages and their families. Approximately $18,000 has been spent to update and equip Park Place for its new role. A portion of the transition expense has been partly funded by local grants and gifts.
“We have a vision to make Park Place a gateway to Tuscora Park that people can enjoy through educational displays, activities and programs,” Claus said.
To make that happen, Claus said the youth center is partnering with local organizations to bring programs and activities geared to children and families.
“Our community partnerships this summer include the Norma Johnson Center, Tuscarawas County Library, Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, Buckeye Career Center and Community Mental Healthcare,” Claus said. “They will bring our nature theme to life with programs, activities and displays.”
Another partner is the New Philadelphia School District to involve teens in internship programs and community services and have school organizations help lead program activities in the center and in the park. This partnership is an opportunity for students, according to David Brand, superintendent of New Philadelphia City Schools.
“The New Philadelphia City Schools are excited about the new opportunities for our students at the Park Place Youth Center," Brand said. "Our younger children will have an exciting place to connect, learn and grow. We are also excited about the opportunities for our older students to get involved through community service, teaching the younger children and internships. The Park Place Youth Center and its partnership with New Philadelphia City Schools will expand the Quaker experience for children of all ages within our community.”
To help fund activities and supplies and cover other operating expenses not funded by the Miller Endowment funds, Claus has secured some sponsorships from local businesses and organizations. Educational sponsors already on board include the Adventure Harley-Davidson, Ohio Laser & Wellness Centers, Pipes Insurance and the Dover Eagles.
“These sponsorships will help keep programs and activities at the youth center free or offered at a very low cost to participants,” Claus said, “and we will welcome additional sponsors going forward.”
Inside the youth center, displays and activities will reflect the seasonal theme, changing four times a year. The first theme this summer will be "Nature" with the theme for the fall months to be "Transportation." Claus is planning activities at least three times a week reflecting the current theme.
Community partners also will present educational programs for kids in the youth center several times each week.
“As we open the youth center this summer and offer our first events and activities, we will be looking for new ideas, additional sponsors, and welcoming feedback from kids and their families as we look to expand our programs in the future,” Claus said.
In addition to her role as Park Place Youth Center director, Claus has taken on marketing and communications duties for RTY operations at the park and the many other activities offered by the city.
To meet the many requests for a souvenir of their visit to Tuscora Park, Claus said a variety of items will be available for sale at the youth center.
“We have Tuscora Park T-shirts, water bottles, drawstring bags, sunglasses and other items,” Claus said. “These items will be available with payment by cash or credit card.”
Claus said there are no online sales or shipping available at this time.
“As we emerge from the pandemic closures, we think Tuscora Park is poised to rebound this summer with swimming pools, amusement rides, mini-golf, amphitheater concerts, concession stands and picnic shelters in full operation,” Boroski said.
A new and improved website is available at www.tuscorapark.com. General information about Tuscora Park and its facilities is available by emailing info@tuscorapark.com. Claus may be emailed at holly@tuscorapark.com.