Sculpture dedicated during community center 25th anniversary event

ATHENS, Ohio –– The celebration of the Athens Community Center’s 25th anniversary Tuesday afternoon included the unveiling of a new sculpture pocket park, complete with a new piece of art.

The sculpture depicts an owl named Athena, named after the Greek goddess of wisdom. It was crafted by Ellen Gagliano, a ceramics teacher at Athens High School. She worked on the project over the summer, while the brown sculpture base, with etchings provided by local residents, was created by her art students.

The model for the sculpture was a real Ohio barn owl named Quinny, who was also present during the event. She came with her human caretaker, Sean O’Hara, a falconer and lead raptor educator from the Ohio School of Falconry in Columbus. 

The festivities also included a reading of a poem by city poet laureate Wendy McVicker about the binding between nature and human interaction.

In his remarks, Athens City Council President Sam Crowl said that for the past 25 years, the Athens Community Center has been the city’s hub for recreational programs, wellness initiatives, learning and making new connections. Public spaces have the most meaning when they tap into creativity to bring the community together, he added.

“Generations of families have found joy, support and friendship here,” he said.

Kevin Schwartzhoff, who was director of the city’s Arts, Parks and Recreation Department from 1988 through 2007, said he remembers the present Athens Community Center’s beginnings. 

When he became APR director, Schartzhoff recalled, the community center was a 2,500 square-foot renovated airplane hangar. By 1995, it no longer met the community’s growing recreational needs. Members of the Recreation Advisory Board at the time — Dave Palmer, Paul Grippa, Jim Sillery, and Joe Kappes — surveyed the community on the viability and operation of a new community center. 

Based on that input, the city placed two income tax initiatives on the ballot in 1997, with both passed overwhelmingly, Schwartzhoff said.

Palmer, the former owner of radio stations WATH and WXTQ, was on hand for Tuesday’s festivities. He said the newer center has been quite an addition to the city so far.

“All of this is special,” he said.

Schwartzhoff said he hopes to “still be around” for the Golden Jubilee of the Athens Community Center in 2050. He works at the front desk of the community center to remain part of its recreational mission.