MILLFIELD, Ohio – With help from area veterans, community members in Dover Township are coming together to restore the Millfield Community Park for the area’s children.
The park, located at 111 Willis Drive, “was in shambles,” said Richard Efaw, commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 7174 in The Plains.
“It hadn’t been taken care of for a long time,” Efaw said. “People are volunteering so the kids have something to do, besides running around and getting drunk.”
Work on the park has received funding from VFW Ohio Charities and community donations, and VFW members have been helping with construction.
All work on the project has been executed by community volunteers, including repainting playground structures, cleaning the area, putting a new roof on one of the park structures, installing a new swing set.
VFW member Brad Keirns said that while he is mostly doing this for the children, it is also important to him that this park be restored to strengthen the community as a whole. Once it is fixed up, he said, it can serve as a place for community members to gather and spend time with one another.
“Here in Millfield, we’re a pretty low-income area,” Keirns said. “Some people can’t afford to take their kids to the other parks, so maybe they can just go [to Millfield Park] where it’s close.”
This Saturday, May 17, the VFW is throwing a “sock hop” event where all proceeds will go toward fixing up the park. Everyone is encouraged to come. It will be held at 12 Pine St., The Plains, from 4–11 p.m.
The sock hop consists of two events.
The first is a basket auction from 4–6 p.m. where community member-made baskets of various themes will be auctioned off. The second event is an adult prom from 7–11 p.m. Tickets for adult prom will need to be purchased at the event. The prom includes live entertainment and 1950s diner-themed food.
For more information on how to donate to or volunteer for the Millfield Park clean-up, visit The Plains VFW Facebook page.
