By Gary Ogle
gogle@wbcowqel.com
Now that state funding is secured to begin Schines Art Park in downtown Bucyrus, Mayor Roger Moore called a meeting Thursday to make sure all the parties involved are on the same page.
“Congratulations to all those involved,” Moore told those assembled in Council Chambers. The group included city officials, representatives from Bucyrus Theatre, Inc., and the newly formed Crawford County Arts Council.
The money is coming from two sources. The newly enacted capital budget for 2015-2016 signed into law this week by Gov. John Kasich includes $357,500 for the art park. The balance of $242,500 is coming from another allocation of state funds designated for the arts.
Moore warned that just because the money has been set aside in the state budget doesn’t mean the old theater will go down overnight and the park will immediately spring into place.
“Taking on state money is a little different that using donated money,” Moore said. “The city is going to be the administrator of this money.”
Joe Armbruster led the charge several years ago to acquire the property from Randy Strauch. The theater had been vacant for several years following a fire. The goal of the group, Bucyrus Theatre, Inc., was to restore the theater and make it an arts center.
“I’m excited about it,” Armbruster said. “It’s not what we intended when we got it from Mr. Strauch. But it will be for the arts. It’s something that will help the town and that’s the important thing.”
Bucyrus Theatre, Inc., will retain possession of the property until the current building comes down and then deed the property over to the city. The name for the new facility, Schines Art Park, was taken from the original name of the theater.
“The Schines Theatre has been a jewel for our community for a long time,” said Bob Laipply, a member of the Crawford County Arts Council. “It’s a little tarnished right now, but we want to get it polished up.”
Moore said in meeting the criteria to receive money in the capital budget it was important that there be green space and an emphasis on education as well as the arts. Although preliminary plans have been drawn up, they are by no means permanent and will likely change through the different phases of the project.
“There will be no fountain, no murals from Mr. (Eric) Grohe,” Moore said. “This is about art, all types of art. This will be an ongoing work between the Crawford County Arts Council, Bucyrus Theatre, Inc., and the city of Bucyrus.”
Moore said there would be seating at the park for both youth and adults and possibly off-street parking. Discussions have also centered on the possibility of some type of permanent performance stage in the park. Above all it will offer an opportunity for local artists of all types and ages to develop and display their work.
“We’ll have a beautiful center of art for our downtown business community on the state route,” Moore said. “And it will be something we can be proud of.”
One of the first items of business, Moore said, is to secure and repair the adjoining wall to the theater that is part of a furniture store, Midwest Furniture-Bedroom, owned by Doug Godwin.
Moore’s administrative assistant, Eunice Collene, cited all the people who had a hand in scrambling to come up with last-minute details to get the funding for the park. Collene cited David Williamson of the Crawford County Education and Economic Development Partnership along with State Senator David Burke and his legislative aide, Lindsey Brigano, for their assistance.
Moore said of the initial $600,000 of state funds that a significant amount would be used to raze the old theater and clean up the site. However, he is hopeful other funds will become available to complete the project in phases.
Moore said Burke wanted to know if the old theater would be razed before this year’s Bratwurst Festival in August in downtown Bucyrus. Moore said he was probably more comfortable with a timeline that would bring the building down and have the site cleared by Thanksgiving.