50th Anniversary Gifts to the Community

"Never doubt that a
small group of committed
people can change the world.
Indeed it is the only
thing that ever has."
-Margaret Mead

In 2001 in honor of the Foundation’s 50th anniversary of serving the community, the Board of Trustees decided it would be most appropriate to give back to the community by making several substantial gifts to the city.  Today, through the generous support of the Foundation, these community projects continue to be  tremendous assets to the city of Hamilton.  

A separate endowment fund has been established for each gift to ensure long-term maintenance and capital improvements.  

Hamilton Gateway Project
	The City Entrance Gateway Sign and Landscaping creates a beautiful vista as travelers enter our city on Route 129.
Michael J. Colligan Lodge
	The old American Legion building at Veteran’s Park was restored and rededicated as the Michael J. Colligan Lodge.  It features a modern kitchen, new restrooms, extensive landscaping, front patio and a spacious new terrace overlooking the city. New lighting, heating, air conditioning and furnishings were also added. The Colligan Lodge is now an important gathering place for community events, celebrations and family gatherings.
Foundation Field
	Foundation Field at the Booker T. Washington Community Center is now a state-of-the-art baseball complex that serves as the home field for the Miami University Hamilton baseball team and for other youth baseball games and tournaments.  In the spring of 2007, Foundation Field hosted the Hamilton High – Badin High game for the first time, drawing a huge crowd and enhancing this cross town competition.
Lentil Park
	To honor Hamilton’s award-winning author, Robert McCloskey, the Foundation commissioned internationally known sculptor Nancy Schon to portray this memorable character from McCloskey’s first book.  The playful sculpture graces a small park at the corner of High Street and Riverfront Plaza.  Lentil Park is a wonderful pocket park in downtown that boasts sculptures of Lentil and his dog from Mr. McCloskey’s first book Lentil.  In May of 2007, a major historical plaque honoring McCloskey was unveiled.
Skateboard park
	The skateboard park in Joyce Park is a joint project with the City of Hamilton and the City of Fairfield.  This park is a great facility for skating enthusiasts to enjoy their sport and draws quite a crowd all year long.
Bike Path
	Our largest Anniversary gift is a five-mile extension to the Bike Path, which will connect 13 parks and nearly 900 acres.  It follows the historic Miami-Erie Canal, ending at the scenic Rentschler Forest Preserve.  Although this project has seen its share of delays, the plans are now complete and construction is expected to begin in the near future.  This significant addition to the bikeway will help make this trail an important link for walkers, runners and cyclist in our community and from throughout the region.