Vandalia: 50 years in the life of a city Editor's Note: The City of Vandalia Communications Department and the Historical Society of Vandalia-Butler are working together to produce a series of articles highlighting the 50 years since Vandalia became a Charter City of the state of Ohio Jan. 1, 1960. These articles will describe various city events in five-year periods with this installment providing an overview of Vandalia's Parks and Recreation Department.
The last half of the decade of the 80's included a number of historic events such as Microsoft introduced Windows. A massive rock concert called "Live Aid" was held in Philadelphia to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia. Video cameras aboard an underwater search vessel located the wreck of the ocean liner Titanic. The U.S. space shuttle Challenger exploded at Cape Canaveral 73 seconds after liftoff and killed all seven members of the crew.
Quantum Computer Services (later called American Online) offered email, electronic bulletin boards, news and other information. The Statue of Liberty celebrated her 100th birthday on July 4, 1986. Although they were the size of a briefcase the first portable telephones became available. A new type of credit card called the "Smart Card" was introduced. Vice President George H.W. Bush defeated Michael Dukakis to become the41st president and the first to spend a holiday with U.S. troops overseas (Thanksgiving in Saudi Arabia).
An earthquake struck San Francisco and Oakland killing 62 and causing widespread damage. The super oil tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground in Alaska's Prince William Sound spilling 11 million gallons of crude oil.
Pete Rose broke Ty Cobb's all-time baseball hit record. College basketball adopted the three-point basket. Six million people joined hands in the Hands Across America movement to raise money for the homeless. The facsimile (Fax) machine was invented. The Berlin Wall was torn down.
In Vandalia, between 1985 and 1989, the community celebrated its 25-year anniversary as a city and its 150-year anniversary since the village was platted. One of the city departments reflecting the transition of the village to a city is the Parks and Recreation Department. The mission of this department is to enhance the quality of life of our citizens and our community by providing diverse leisure facilities, programs and services. When you consider the humble beginnings of the Department the results to date are impressive and need to be described further.
The first year in which an organized recreation program was sponsored by the city was 1958 and in 1959 the director's duties included supervising the baseball program and various programs at Vandalia Elementary and Edgewood Park (later to become Robinette Park). According to the first annual report for Vandalia (Sam Citizen Reports) the city's opening budget balance in 1960, for all funds, was $128,451.16 and the opening balance for the Park (we only had one park then) and Recreation Board was $64.11 with Art Van Atta listed as the first Recreation Director.
The first new park accepted by the City Council was Victory Park, which was a name selected in a contest among Vandalia-Butler School students. The first members of the City's Recreation Board were Chairman Robert Barber, Paul Lutz, Kenny Amlin, Lawrence Sabec, and Carl Scholz. City Council adopted the state code that three members would be appointed by City Council and two members would be appointed by the Board of Education. Much credit goes to Art Van Atta, James Winchester, Steve Furka, James Robinette, James Warner, and Robert Riggsby for the formation and growth of the department in the early years.
Mr. Charles F. (Rusty) Tomlinson became the first full-time Director of Parks and Recreation on Aug. 3, 1970 with duties for implementation of programs approved by City Council, advisor to the Parks and Recreation Board, and supervisor of maintenance of all parks. By 1970 we also had established a separate baseball commission, acquired about 100 acres of additional parkland, and the recreation budget had increased to $106,000. The 1975 annual report indicated our parks as Helke, Robinette, Roselawn, and Victory; we had opened Cassel Hills swimming pool in 1973; we opened Cassel Hills Golf Course in 1974; and our parks and recreation budget increased to $262,900. The Cassel Hills Clubhouse was completed in 1976, the Senior Citizens Center opened in 1978, and Roselawn Park was renamed Herschel Jeffers Park in 1978. Also in 1978 Art Van Atta was hired as an Athletic Coordinator, Helen Tomski was hired as the Senior Citizen Coordinator, and the first Crossroad of America Classic was held (a mini marathon of 8 miles with 400 plus runners). The Seger Park Gazebo was constructed in 1979, the city annual report indicated the Golf Course and Clubhouse Restaurant had their own budget line item, and the combined estimated budget for 1979 parks and recreation and golf operations was $745,580 or 16% of the total budget.
In 1982, Michael Pfahl was hired as the Director of Recreation and when Rusty Tomlinson retired January 1985. Pfahl was appointed the Director of Parks and Recreation and Dean Nardecchia was hired as the Recreation Superintendent. Mike Pfahl resigned June 1986 to accept a position with the National Youth Sports Coaches Association and his position remained open until Dean Nardecchia took over as Director of Parks and Recreation April 1988 and Steve Clark was hired as a Recreation Superintendent in June. By 1989 the Vandalia Youth Sports Complex began to take shape, the first "Corporate Challenge" took place, and the annual report no longer had a separate budget line item for the Parks and Recreation. In May 1991 the Sports Complex held opening day ceremonies and later in the year held the first Independence Day Star-Spangled Celebration. In 1993 "Ricky the Recreational Rabbit" was introduced as a new Parks and Recreation mascot with 400 students entering a contest to create the promotional character and Jennifer Buckner selected as the winning entry.
With the Sports Complex in operation, Robinette Park was restored to a neighborhood park in 1994, as it was first intended in the 1950's. On July 15, 1999 the Department hosted groundbreaking ceremonies for the $9.5 million 58,500 sq. ft. Vandalia Recreation Center designed by John Poe Architects and built by Monarch Construction Company. By 2000 the Department maintained 8 parks (Jeffers, Robinette, Seger, Victory, Helke, Lichtenfels, Warner, and the Sports Complex), Municipal Building, Senior Citizens Center, Cassel Hills Pool, Cassel Hills Clubhouse Restaurant, Cassel Hills Golf Course, Recreation Center, and Justice Center and the estimated budget for 2001 had line items for Golf, Baseball, Soccer, and Rec. Center totaling $1,405,280. Ribbon cutting took place at the Rec. Center April 2001 with 2,300 memberships sold and the debut of "Friday Night Frenzy" for middle school students exclusive use of the Center from 10 PM to midnight twice a month during the school year after high school athletic events.
Steve Clark became the acting Parks and Recreation Director February 2004, was confirmed to the position January 2005, and continues in that position today. The Rec. Center hosted the first American Cancer Society Relay for Life in 2003 and many citizens were disappointed when the Star-Spangled Celebration was not held in 2003 due to budget constraints.
The Christian Life Center held their first Summer Sizzle at the Rec. Center in 2004, with 3,500 people attending. In 2005 the Rec. Center, with the Vandalia Rotary Club, was the host site for an art contest commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Rotary International. Additional parks listed in the annual report for 2006 were Copperfield, Ashbury Farms, and Brown School Rd. bringing the total city parks to 11. The Sports Complex was the host site in 2007 for the 21st annual Warrior Soccer Classic with 200 teams playing at least one game at the Sports Complex fields. The first "Beat the Winter Blues Beach Party" took place February 2008 and in 2009 the Rec. Center went high-tech launching Web-Trac for on-line program registration and started an adults special needs swim program.
Today the Parks and Recreation Department maintains an extensive park and facility system with over 300 acres and 25 parks and facilities including the state of the art Recreation Center, Sports Complex, Cassel Hills Golf Course, Helke Park, Cassel Hills Pool, Senior Center, Vandalia Justice Center, Municipal Building and a host of neighborhood parks.
As the city parks and recreation webpage says, "This website contains a wealth of information about our services and we encourage you to check out one of our many activities and facilities" so check it out at http://www.ci.vandalia.oh.us/Parks_Rec.cfm.
The next article in this series will cover the year 1985.
If you would like more information about Vandalia's Golden Celebration you can contact Vandalia Communications Manager Rich Hopkins, 937-415-2251, e-mail rhopkins@vandaliaohio.org or visit the City of Vandalia website at http://www.vandaliaohio.org.
If you have any local historical material or stories you would like to share or would like more information about the Historical Society of Vandalia-Butler you can call 937-898-5300, e-mail info@historicalsocietyvandalia-butler.org or visit the Historical Society website at http://www.historicalsocietyvandalia-butler.org.
Material compiled by Joe Dranschak of the Historical Society of Vandalia-Butler.
