October 3, 2007

Defiance County Master Gardeners Receive Statewide Award

Defiance County Master Gardeners have received the statewide Project of the Year award. A plaque was presented at the 2007 OSU Master Gardener Volunteer State Conference in Columbus on September 14 by First Lady Frances Strickland recognizing the group's contributions to the revitalization of Sherwood Memorial Park. The award cites outstanding contributions in education and service to the community with Defiance County volunteers receiving the top honors for a medium size county (26-75 volunteers).

  The park was developed during 2006. Master Gardeners Linda and Dale Bennett headed a revitalization committee of fifteen dedicated community members, with affiliations to numerous groups, organizations, village government and businesses. They formed a collaboration to create something special for the people of Sherwood. The committee secured a Nature Works grant for the project of $41,000 and over $25,000 in local matching funds were raised. Sherwood Memorial Park, a pre-existing, underdeveloped, underutilized, village owned green space of approximately three acres, afforded the perfect opportunity to create a multipurpose, multigenerational, multi-sensory gathering place for the community. The re-developed green space includes a gazebo, Garden of Honor, Garden of Remembrance, butterfly garden, "Red Hatters" garden and an enabling garden with raised bed. The park's location, in the heart of Sherwood, makes it an ideal destination to walk, bike or drive to.

  The dream of a revitalized park would not have become a reality if it were not for the hard work and dedication of the Defiance County Master Gardeners. Their volunteers constructed a raised bed and a tool shed. The gardeners partnered with the community in creating flower beds and in planting and seeding the newly developed grounds. Master Gardeners continue to maintain the gardens at the park as well as play a vital role in the park's educational programming and Phase II of the park's development. A fifty-dollar gift certificate for tools was received as part of the Project of the Year Award and the group has donated it for use at the park.