Community invited to playground re-opening celebration

The Bay Village Foundation will host a grand re-opening celebration for the Play in Bay playground on Saturday, May 13, from 3-5 p.m. The free community event will feature food, ice cream, face painting and a balloon artist for a fun-filled afternoon for the whole family.

At 3:30 p.m., the Bay Village Community Council will recognize the Foundation’s playground renovation as the Project of the Year, and Evelyn Allen as the Citizen of the Year. Mayor Paul Koomar will present proclamations to the honorees.

In the event of inclement weather, the proclamation ceremony will be moved to City Hall.

In 2015, The Bay Village Foundation announced a major community project to celebrate its 20th anniversary. The Foundation planned to raise $100,000 to refurbish and enhance the 20-year-old wood structure of Play in Bay by covering the railings and post caps and replacing the decking with composite material; and by repairing old playground features and adding new ones. This gift to the children of Bay Village was achieved thanks to the generosity of more than 350 Bay citizens, clubs and groups, and local businesses, earning the honor of Project of the Year.

Evelyn Allen was chosen by the Community Council as this year’s Citizen of the Year in recognition of her tireless volunteerism in the community as a member of the Bay Village Historical Society, Bicentennial Committee, Bay Village Foundation, and as a St. Raphael capital campaign planner and Eucharistic minister.