Siebeneck hopes to begin "Friends of the Park" group

 SEE VIDEO ABOUT PARK

OTTAWA - Carol Siebeneck remembers being at the park nearly every night as her three children were growing up.

"Harold and I would come to the ball game and it was always such a busy place." She said. "It was always so cool and pleasant when we came."

Siebeneck continues to be proud of Ottawa Memorial Park. Looking around she points out new features at the including the disc golf course, paths and the new bridge put in by the Rotary Club.

"It's a beautiful park,' she said.  "And there's so much space here we can continue to enhance it."

Siebeneck became a member of the Ottawa Park Board last spring. Since then she has been busy with her own effort to make improvements at the park.

She place six pots of flowers at the swimming pool. She also planted flowers donated by Wal-Mart at the entrance. Nearly every night she carried 15 gallons of water in milk cartons to the park to keep the flowers watered.

Now Siebeneck has visions of adding more major enhancements but admits she won't be able to do it alone.

"I'm hoping to form a "Friends of the Park" group," she said. The group would meet monthly to do routine clean-up and improvements at the park."

She also has visions of adding a meditation garden and an area with a gazebo for photographs to the park.

"We have most of the supplies we would need for the meditation garden," Siebeneck said. "The town has bricks that could form the paths and sitting area," Siebeneck said perennials would be planted around the paths.

"We can accept donations to place benches in this area," she said "Plaques would be placed on the benches in memory of the person of the donor's choice." Siebeneck said the center of the meditation garden could also include a table and chairs.

Pointing to the h ills and view on the south side of the park, Siebeneck said this area would provide a perfect backdrop for wedding and family pictures. That is why should like to add a waterproof gazebo and path to the gazebo in this area.

"It floods here sometimes so it would be better to install a waterproof gazebo such as concrete," Siebeneck noted.

Siebeneck said she is proud of the Ottawa parks. As a park board member she helps oversee the budget and operation of Ottawa Memorial Park, Our Lord's Park and the Waterworks Park.

"We have three very nice parks in town," she said. "I see people of all ages using the park all the time. I'm just hoping to get more projects started to continue to improve the park.

Siebeneck is hoping that service organizations, individuals and businesses will consider what they can do to improve the park.

"Every little bit will help," she said. "Even if someone has extra perennials they are dividing I will be glad to take them and plant them at the park."

If someone is interested in making a donation or becoming involved in the Friends of the Park they can attend the October 6 meeting at the  park or call the village for more information.