MILDRED — Mike Scott suggested constructing a park and ball diamond in town, as “a place for the kids to play,” at Thrive Allen County’s Community Conversation here Monday night.
Mildred owns no land, said Mayor Dennis Gardner, but applauded Scott’s proposal, recalling that as a youngster he and friends made good use of a vacant half block.
“I’d give some of a block I own,” said Steven Reed. “We could have some picnic tables, too.”
David Toland, Thrive executive director, reminded that Elsmore had done a similar project and that perhaps Elsmore residents would be willing to give their Mildred neighbors a hand.
“Val McLean’s baseball team (at Allen Community College) helped at Elsmore and Val always is looking for a civic project for the team,” said Larry Manes, an ACC trustee.
“It wouldn’t take much money, but it would take a lot of work,” Toland observed.
“I’m willing to bet if you put out some feelers, you’d get plenty of help,” said Don Burns, a Thrive board member.
Finding funding “would be right down Thrive’s alley,” said Toland. “We could help with fundraising.”
Reed said people would enjoy learning more about “the historic things we grew up with.” To accomplish that, he proposed a “ghost town run.”
“It could be like the poker runs (motorcycle clubs and others have), and we could visit ghost towns in a couple of counties,” Reed said. “People could experience things that we see every day,” in such places as Mildred, population 24. “There could be someone with a flag and a truck where towns used to be, to say ‘this was it.’”
Starting point, he said, could be in Mildred, and could involve everyone in town, “not just me.”
Manes noted a recreation opportunity already in place could be seized by parents of Mildred children. Gardner said six youngsters called the town home.
“If you could get them to Moran, they could ride the summer swim bus to Iola’s pool,” Manes said.
The bus carries youths from Savonburg, Elsmore and Moran to Iola to swim on Tuesdays and Thursdays in June and July.
Henry and Ginger McFadden said they could help.
“We have a big van and usually we’re just sitting out at the house,” Henry McFadden said, of a way to transport the children to Moran.
