A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Friday, May 9, for the Ashland County Park District’s Davy McClure Outdoor Education center.
After five years of planning and fundraising “The Davy,” as it is affectionately referred to, is open. Close to 100 people attended the grand opening.
McClure, former park commissioner, coordinator and teacher with the outdoor education program died in 2020 at the age of 46 following cardiac complications. He had a dream and vision of some day having an education center for all to enjoy.
That same year people gathered to come up with a way the county could remember McClure for the things he did to help young people learn about the outdoors.
McClure and his father, Andy McClure, rebuilt the pond and dam that sits in front of the new building. At that time they talked about what could be done with the land for people of all ages.
The idea for the outdoor education center was born, his father said. Through local fundraising, the project was started.
McClure’s son, Christopher McClure, 20, said it is pretty cool people and the Park District could build The Davy and help his dad’s dream come true of providing kids and people of all ages a place to learn about the outdoors, and spend time there.
Park Commissioners Robert DeSanto, Tom Kruse and Shane Kremser, along with the McClure family and consultant Thomas James, were involved in the planning stages.
The Ashland community answers the call to build ‘The Davy ‘
The facility, at a cost of around $700,000, is 3,200 square feet with over 2,000 square feet of indoor programming space. Amenities include interior and exterior restrooms and attached outdoor patio, and will feature school bus friendly access and parking.
Funds were raised through the Friends of Ashland County Park District by both public and private contributions. Bob and Jan Archer matched $250,000.
The center looks out over 80 acres of greenspace with woodlands, wetlands, streams and native plantings.
Volunteer Steve Huber provided artistic renderings for the building. Initial plans were for a three-season facility with retractable walls, fireplace and a large meeting space.
In summer 2022 the Ashland County Park District held a ceremony at the site of its future outdoor education center that would be named after the late Davy McClure.
The center is at Tom Kruse Park, which is 80 acres of park land that features wildlife, rolling meadows, a wooded ravine and a pond at the intersection of state Route 60 and County Road 1754.
This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Davy’s legacy of learning paid forward through McClure Outdoor Education Center
Reporting by Ashland Times-Gazette/USA TODAY NETWORK / Ashland Times Gazette
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