BROOKFIELD

Junction construction to begin

Finally, after almost two years of planning and work, the dream of children’s playground Jenny Junction will become a reality.

Contractor Game Time Inc., of Alliance, Ohio, was the only bidder for the playground at Brookfield Township Community Park on Stewart-Sharon Road.

Township trustees opened the $104,470 bid at a Monday meeting and are ready to vote on it Wednesday.

Ground-breaking is planned for mid-September, with plans for the playground to be finished in October.

The Alliance contractor had given the playground committee the original estimates.

The playground is named for 14-year-old Jenny Boyle, who died in 1995 after a lightning strike in the park. Her parents, Jill and Gary, are actively involved in the committee.

The committee has raised $46,000 for the project and is using a grant from the Ohio Department of natural Resources to pay for the playground.

"Though we did receive a grant from the state of Ohio for about $76,000, for a total amount of about $118,000, it will take about $105,000 alone to pay for the playground equipment and its installation," said park committee chair Gwen Martino.

"That doesn’t include landscaping, pickets, and other equipment needed. We’ll need about $125,000 to finish it," she added.

The park committee is sellling wooden pickets for the fence surrounding the playground, which can be engraved with a name of a family, business or in memory of someone. The pickets are $30 each.

"We have over 850 pickets to sell, but only 85 have been sold," said Mrs. Martino. "And we’ve only had 10 pieces of playground equipment purchased, and we have at least 100 total needed for the playground."

Those who buy the equipment can have their names placed on the items.

Picket forms can be found at the post office in Brookfield, Jones Chiropractic Clinic, Inc., Private Beaches Tanning Salon, and Roseanne’s Beauty Shop, all in Brookfield.

The Cleveland Browns Foundation has also given 26 free Browns tickets to students who have helped raise funds for the playground committee.

The students are Adam Brink, David Guerino, Jackie Guerino, Rebecca Guerino, Jessica Boley, Corey Mild, Brianna Mild, Rachel Gentile, Lauren Gentile, Nicole Beebe, Cameron Beebe, Katie Combs, Ryan Hipple, D.J. Martino, Ali Martino, Bill Feigert, Joe Nagy, Corey Hughey, John Bates, Craig Saloom, Matt Klouse, Greg Klouse, Jordy Harris, Ryan Brant, Jake Nelson, and Patrick Dillon.

To make a donation to Jenny Junction, contact Mrs. Martino at (330)448-0297.