Schoolhouse Park is one of 47 parks in the park district, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The district has seven community parks, seven nature parks, and 33 neighborhood parks in Centerville and Washington Twp., Lanese said.
Schoolhouse Park, which began with some baseball and soccer fields, once also had a small replica of the Miamisburg Mound, a favorite sledding spot for local children, Lanese said. The mound was removed for safety reasons when the park was redeveloped in 1998-99, she said. Tennis and basketball courts were added, along with a football field, football practice areas, a shelter, playground, walking paths, public restrooms, a drinking fountain, a storage facility, concession stand and a park maintenance building. The buildings were designed to reflect the early history of the school house, which closed in 1926 when the school district consolidated, Lanese said. A second football field was added with the growth of the two football programs.
The Wee Elks play 10 games each weekend from Labor Day through the end of October at the park, fielding 22 squads with around 500 players, Lanese said. The park is also used by 22 cheerleading squads with around 200 cheerleaders, she said.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2341 or kullmer@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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