Germano opens new community park thanks to local donors and township effort

Just 4.9 miles outside Jewett, in German Township, sits the unincorporated community of Germano — a small but determined corner of Harrison County. Thanks to the vision of township trustees, community leaders and $68,000 in donations, Germano now has a new gathering place: the German Township Community Park.

On Thursday, Oct. 30, county officials, community members and business leaders gathered at the new park to celebrate its completion. Despite steady rain, the group stood together to officially open the long-awaited project.

The park currently includes a swing set, a slide and a basketball court with a concrete surface. Additional work will continue, including expanding the court and constructing a picnic shelter in spring 2026.

Among those attending the opening were Neil Dawson of Interstate Waste; donors Mariah Kuryn, Margaret Pickens, Cathy and Tim Muldovan, and Jim Pickens; Harrison County Commissioners Amy Norris and Paul Prevot; representatives from the Harrison County Community Foundation, Sandy Thompson and Lori Millison; German Township Fiscal Officer Dawn Edwards; George Bailey of MPLX; Ryan Marker, German Township trustee; Scott Hrvnick of Williams Company; and resident Paul Mader.

“We started this project almost three years ago when we were approached by German Community Park board members Carole Miller and Richard Toker,” Edwards said. “They wanted to see if the township would develop property they owned in the center of town. The trustees agreed, and we began working on donations and cleanup.”

While the project was underway, Cathy and Tim Muldovan offered to donate a large parcel of land at the end of town. The trustees and fiscal officer accepted, relocating the park to its current site at 90940 Jewett-Germano Road. The Muldovans contributed two parcels, and a third was transferred to the township by the county after it went unsold at a sheriff’s sale.

“Interstate Waste, a local business, helped with excavating the property and brought in Scheckler Excavating to work for several days,” Edwards said. “While that work was underway, the trustees and I focused on donations and grants. By spring of this year, we had enough to purchase playground equipment, which was installed in August. The park was fenced before installation, and this month we added the basketball court. A 24-by-36-foot picnic shelter will be added in the spring.”

Donors to the project include Germano Community Park Board Members Carole Miller and Richard Toker; Kathy and Tim Muldovan; Jim and Margaret Pickens; Interstate Waste; MPLX; Williams Company; Marker Farms; Harrison County Commissioners Amy Norris, Paul Prevot and Dustin Corder; the Harrison County Community Foundation; German Township Trustees Frank Kellar, Ryan Marker and Neal Dawson; German Township Fiscal Officer Dawn Edwards; Lombardi Development; Valdinger Farms; and Fence LLC.

“This is a very nice addition to German Township,” Commissioner Paul Prevot said. “This park has been a long time coming. Everyone involved has done a great job, and the community cleanup has been inspiring. The county is proud to be part of this project.”

Commissioner Amy Norris added, “We are honored to be here today and proud of the role the county has played in this endeavor.”