Newark, Ohio

Newark, Ohio, has built a 13-acre park largely with materials from road construction project demolitions. Designers of Flory Park accomplished their mission of “reusing local resources for learning” by using debris from Ohio State Route 16 (SR16) to build several park amenities.

The project started when a group of city officials came together to decide what to do with land that had been donated to the Licking County Foundation nearly 25 years ago. Their first goal was to stem erosion along Raccoon Creek using recycled demolition materials. Once that was accomplished, they decided to use materials left over from the erosion control project to construct a park.

Construction and demolition debris was used to build an amphitheater, and a concrete barrier at the edge of the parking lot was made with expressway overpass parapets. Walking paths were constructed with re-used asphalt, and picnic tables and benches were made from recycled milk jugs. Except for the milk jugs, all materials were donated and brought to the site by Kokosing Construction.

City departments also helped make the park a success. The Traffic Control Department installed signs at the park, the Street Department provided mulch for landscaping, and the Engineering Department mapped the layout of the park. In addition, a drinking fountain was installed with the support of the Newark Rotary Club, a contribution worth approximately $2,000.

However, eight learning stations built from old highway slabs are the park’s crowning glory. Each is designed to teach about specific topics in environmental education. Participating students follow a curriculum that was developed by seven area teachers from the Heath, Licking Valley and Newark school districts. The curriculum has been designed to help meet state proficiency standards.

At the Raccoon Beach station, situated along the river’s edge, students, grades K through 12, can sample water and determine its quality by studying the macro invertebrates. At Pollution Solution, students can take soil samples and learn about recycled materials. Also, at each station, they participate in writing exercises about environmental topics such as biodegradability.

Area teachers bring their classes to the park to visit the stations. The Litter and Recycling Division provides supplies, such as magnifying glasses, microscopes, nets and wind meters, that teachers may need at each station. The department also provides reference books to help identify plants and animals at the park.

Agencies/companies involved: The Licking County Foundation; Kokosing Construction, Fredericktown, Ohio; the Cecil B. Mauger Charitable Trust; (from the city) Litter and Recycling Division; Parks and Recreation Department.