MILTON — Township residents gathered at the new gazebo on Sunday to cut the ribbon and welcome Santa, who was up in the new structure for the children.

The entire project to build the new gazebo started about two years ago. Milton resident Sally Smolek learned about Ohio Department of Natural Resources grants that were available. She attended a Milton Township trustees meeting and explained her vision for a new gazebo. That vision was to build the gazebo on what is known as Milton Township Park, a section of property that lies between Milton and Mahoning avenues at the “Y.”

The trustees at that time resolved that if Smolek were to write the grant and was successful, the property would be available for such a structure.

“Six months later I was notified the grant was approved,” Smolek said. “In fact, it was the largest grant amount in Mahoning County and one of the largest in the region.”

The grant was for $55,000and the total cost of the gazebo project was around $85,000. To meet the difference and a required 25% match, Smolek and Sue Montgomery turned to Milton residents for donations, and the Milton Women’s League kicked in a significant amount from the annual Summer Craft Show.

“This was one of the key pieces that made this project viable and the grandeur that it is,” Sally said.

One key to obtaining the grant, according to Smolek, was the support letter written by John Traveline, Lake Milton State Park manager who represents ODNR.

“We attribute the success of our grant in large part to his support,” Smolek said.

Smolek said she worked with Berlin Gardens on the design, delivery and erection of the gazebo.

Ron Smolek served as general contractor for the project. He said all the electrical had to be run underground, and the decision was made to bring water to the gazebo area.

On the base, a large footer, the same size and shape as the gazebo was laid in first, then the concrete pad was laid on top of that.

“You could land helicopters on the pad,” he said regarding the foundation’s strength.

Among those who assisted with the project is Bill Leone of Tri-Lake Electrical of North Jackson. He made a large donation of labor associated with the construction and even spent an additional day on the site to erect the flagpole.

Others recognized are County Auditor Ralph Meacham, former township trustees Russ Weimer and Harold Campbell, current trustees Dave Tomaino, Ed Villone and Wendy Dibernardi, Matt Wagner from the Lake Milton Historical Society, Dave Alterier of CBS for waiving all material delivery charges for slag, stone, and topsoil, former fire Chief Harold Maynard, Susie Lemmon for heading up the landscape committee and an anonymous personal friend who matched donations.

“It is truly a community project,” Sally said. “We are hoping it will be used for concerts and children’s events like Halloween and Christmas.”

Sunday’s ribbon cutting included a few details on the items next to the gazebo. On one end, under the flagpole, is a ship’s anchor donated by Dr. James Samsone.

At the other end is a mill stone from an 1823 era grist mill that was on the property of John Forder, Sally’s great-great grandfather who bought 600 acres of land in 1824 that included the grist mill. The mill stone adds the historic flair to the project.