(From left) Ric Stolly, Debbie Weigand and Mayor Sharetta Smith stand at the Memoriam of Gloria Jean Lawrence in Faurot Park.
Courtesy of the City of Lima
LIMA — Faurot Park received a new playground thanks to a very generous donor, the late Gloria Jean Lawrence. On Friday afternoon, the City of Lima Parks, Recreation and Forestry cut a red ribbon to officially open the new play area dedicated to Lawrence.
The City of Lima began working on this project in 2018. Before passing that same year, Lawrence dedicated her estate to Lima. After living in Sebring, Florida for many years with her late husband, Floyd Lawrence, Gloria wanted to return home before she passed but she never made it.
Her neighbor, Debbie Weigand, dedicated time to reaching out to the City of Lima and ensuring her final wishes became true. Lawrence left Lima at an early age but never lost the fond memories of her home. Out of that love for the area, she left $498,000 for the City of Lima. She never had children of her own but wanted to provide a legacy for children in her hometown.
The new playground cost around $700,000.
“We completed a survey of all of our playgrounds. It found our strengths, weaknesses and potential threats/harm at our playgrounds,” said Ric Stolly, Public Works Director. “We have been able to re-do multiple parks in our area and 94 percent of the funding has come from gifts and grants from the state. We successfully obtained $250,000 through a state grant for the next project in 2018. We were just getting ready to complete renovations at Faurot Park and all of a sudden a call from Florida comes in. We are still trying to figure out how we can memorialize Gloria’s short time here in Lima.”
The new park now includes all abilities equipment, chin-up bars, new surface, swing sets, slides and more.
“When I stepped out of the car I just started crying,” said Weigand. “I know how much she would have enjoyed this space.”
Lima Parks, Recreation and Forestry extended its thanks to the Land and Water Conservation Fund, Jan Wiebe, Johnny Appleseed Metro Park District, Former Mayor Dave Berger, Former Public Works Director Howard Elstro, City of Lima Law Director Tony Geiger, Lima City Council, City of Lima Recreation Board, David Williams and Associates Recreations, Fenson Contracting, the City of Lima Engineering Department, the City of Lima Utilities Department, City of Lima Tree Crew, Modo Media, Mayor Sharetta Smith, Debbie Weigand and Gloria Jean Lawrence.
