LIBERTY — A recently reelected trustee noted new homes, grants and business developments throughout the community as among the previous year’s high points.

During concluding remarks at last week’s trustees meeting, Trustee Arnie Clebone, whose newest term started Jan. 1, noted Mercy Health’s opening of a 61,900-square-foot behavioral health facility in December was a huge boon for the township.

The hospital’s opening came a little more than a year after Mercy Health officials hosted a ribbon-cutting for a rehabilitation hospital in the same area, which was the site of the former Kmart at the corner of Trumbull and Belmont avenues.

A month prior, officials celebrated the launch of 32 building lots on the north end of Potters Circle in Kline’s Farm, a neighborhood along Belmont Avenue, which is a joint venture between Altobelli Real Estate and Home & Land Developers, LLC, Clebone said.

Clebone recalled the township leasing land out to Refuge Ministries, a social service agency in the community, which has begun constructing youth soccer fields on state Route 304 adjacent to Center Park.

Bob Denen, the ministry’s principal officer who attended the meeting, reported that more construction could not be completed until the ground dries up, adding they plan on making two adult and “two or three” youth soccer fields and a walking track around the property. Denen said they hope to resume construction soon.

“Eventually we’re going to put in some public restrooms, things like that, so everybody can use the area,” Denen said. “We’re moving along; I’m hoping we can get back in around March, April.”

Denen said he hopes to add a splash pad to the improvements if he can get some more funding.

“I want to get some more of it done, and then we’ll try to get some local businesses to help with the splash park because it’s going to be free,” Denen said. “That would be open, like, beginning Memorial Day to Labor Day — maybe something small for the kids to run around in.”

Clebone reported that Trumbull County commissioners awarded the township a $450,000 American Rescue Plan grant to enhance Center Park, which will be used to improve the sports and recreation area, the walking path and pavilions.

Clebone said Friday that the improvements will include handling drainage issues, adding that engineers already have started cutting down trees in the area.

Clebone said the Belmont Corridor Plan, a joint endeavor undertaken by Youngstown in partnership with the township, is expected to be completed in October.

The plan will propose enhancements for a 4.5-mile stretch from Giant Eagle Plaza just north of Churchill Road to downtown Youngstown, through a plan guided by input from residents, local businesses and a designated coalition.