Madison Township Trustee Jane Linker led a meeting at the HAAA Pavilion on plans for the old school site in Hoagland on September 27th. Hoagland needs another park, as the HAAA park is mostly used for baseball and the demo derby. Here is what Mrs. Linker wrote for this meeting:
“This project is in honor of the rich history of Hoagland School and our desire to keep memories alive and turn this property into a park for all in our community to enjoy. As you may not be aware, Hoagland School was demolished in 2019 after serving many students over the years from 1928 to 2014.
This 14.5 acre Old School Park area was donated to Madison Township by the East Allen School Board. Madison Township Trustee and Board wish to make it a park where all abilities and all ages can enjoy themselves.
For the park we want to incorporate a walking path with benches, flowers, and trees throughout the property. Also a picnic area with a pavilion and an all-ability play area that everyone can enjoy. We will retain and improve our basketball court. We wish to add some Pickle Ball courts, a Frisbee Golf area, with space for additional recreational activities. Restrooms will be added as well as a concrete area for entertainment/church services. This will be done in cooperation with a local church.
We have not asked for assistance in the past for a project, but we ask now if you would join with Madison Township in supporting us and partnering with us on this project. We are a small community but very rich in the history in Allen County and we wish to preserve the memory of Hoagland School along with some school memorabilia that we saved. Thank you for your time and consideration and we look forward to hearing from you with any ideas or questions.”
Mrs. Linker reported on the several sources of grants she is pursuing, as her Township budget is very tight. A small army of volunteers have worked many hours to clean up the site of rocks and brush, saving the Township thousands of dollars. Those volunteers were asked to stand and they received a round of applause in appreciation for their hard work. A lively discussion, including suggestions for the park and possible ideas for funding, was held after Mrs. Linker’s remarks. Light refreshments were available for the attendees.
