While Earth day officially takes place on Sunday, you’ll have the opportunity to celebrate a bit earlier in the Village of Hiram on Saturday, April 21st. That’s when the Village will dedicate it’s newest park — the Reign Hadsell School Park — while they highlight the other outdoor opportunities that make Hiram an easy-to get-to, walkable village.
The event begins at 10 am, where the folks at the Hiram Christian Church will be serving coffee and hot chocolate to help would-be-walkers fuel their day. They’ll be open and available to help hikers take the chill off until 11 am. Visit Hiram College’s Bonney Castle on Hinsdale Street to experience a guided hike on the Grand Oak Trail, which steps off behind the building at 10 am or 12:30 pm. This wooded trail is approximately one mile in length, and was constructed by Hiram College Environmental Studies Students; please plan approximately 40 minutes for this guided hike.
At 10:30 am, Crestwood’s Fifth Grade Choir will perform at the Reign Hadsell Hiram School Park on Bancroft Street, followed at 11 am by the Crestwood High School Jazz Band. The new park will be officially dedicated at 11:30 am, followed by the opportunity for attendees of all ages to dance around the May Pole at noon. Folks from the ODNR Division of Natural Areas & Preserves will be hosting outdoor activities from 12:30 until 2 pm, as well.
Meanwhile, at 11 am and again at 1:15 pm, visitors will have the opportunity to take a guided trek along the Village’s Hike & Bike Trail Hike, which begins at the corner of Winrock and Hinsdale Streets. This newly completed half-mile trail is paved, cutting through the wooded area behind the College’s athletic fields.
At 12:30, 1 & 1:30 pm, the Hiram College Environmental Studies will host activities for kids of all ages at the gazebo at Copper Beech Park, which is located next to the Department’s Tree House at the corner of Dean and Bancroft Streets. From 10 am until 1pm, the Little Village Preschool at Hiram Christian Church invites visitors to help sow their new planters in an Earth Day beautification activity.
From 10 am through 2 pm, businesses and organizations throughout the Village will be hosting earth-friendly activities and events. The Hiram Inn will lead visitors on a tour through the historic facility, where they’ll share local history and offer a small treat. The Mantua Garden Club will provide expert assistance to help visitors plant seeds at Jagow Park, while the nearby Hiram Historical Society will hold an open house throughout the event. Families can tour the Hiram Farm, afterwards, small children will have the opportunity to make a craft (11485 Garfield Road). As an added bonus, Gionino’s Pizzeria will offer an Earth Day special from 10 am until 2 pm, where families can enjoy a medium cheese pizza for just $5.
Free event parking is available in the gravel lot at the Rosser Municipal Building (11617 Garfield Road), at Hiram Christian Church, on Bancroft Street by the Reign Hadsell School Park, and at the Trailhead at corner of Winrock and Hinsdale Streets.
The Hiram Village Park Board would like to thank Village residents, as well as the following organizations for their generous support, which made development and building of The Reign Hadsell Hiram School Park possible. Organizations include the Portage Foundation, Hiram Community Trust Foundation, NatureWorks, Portage County Regional Planning Commission, and the Nature Land and Water Conservation Fund.
For more information, visit the Hiram Village Parks Facebook page.
