CANTON ‒ Some of the most famous spouses in American history have a permanent home inside the National First Ladies Library & Museum.
The obvious route to that exclusive club is to be married to a sitting president, which makes for slim chances. But you soon will be able to exchange vows and tie the knot — basking in their collective presence from afar — at a rentable event and wedding venue planned for the Library’s park in Canton.
“I can’t wait to see how it turns out,” said Allyson Bussey, a Library board member who’s also president and chief executive of Visit Canton, the county’s convention and visitors’ bureau.
Patty Dowd Schmitz, Library president and chief executive since March 2023, said the project was in the works before she came aboard. She said the outdoor wedding venue idea grew organically through the years.
“It’s a beautiful little park,” she said.
National First Ladies’ park upgrade funded by Department of Natural Resources
North of the Saxton-McKinley house, the park is within a downtown block bordered by Market Avenue S and Court Avenue, between Third and Fourth Streets southwest. It’s divided into two pieces: east park, recently upgraded to include some artificial turf and a fountain, and the west park, with benches, tables and several ground-level landscaping beds.
The Library had received a pair of $250,000 grants from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. One paid for the east park renovation, completed by Enviroscapes. The other will fund the west section wedding venue project.
Patty Dowd Schmitz, president and chief executive of the National First Ladies’ Library outside the Saxton house. in a file photo.
“Kirk Schuring, God rest his soul … helped to get that,” Bussey said.
The longtime state legislator from Stark County, and a champion of the Library, died on Nov. 22.
Dowd Schmitz said downtown workers and visitors regularly grab a park spot to eat lunch on nice days. It’s also a popular location to stage everything from graduation to wedding photos. And staff regularly fields inquiries about possible opportunities for weddings.
The park’s proximity to the nearby DoubleTree by Hilton hotel makes the planned venue a logical fit, she added.
According to The Knot, a wedding planning website, the park venue would appear to boast several features that will trend for venues this year: Unique flow between indoor and outdoor, and historic architecture.
Enviroscapes is among those who were expected to submit construction proposals, which were due Wednesday. Several firms will then be selected to make presentations to the Library board on Jan. 13.
A document outlining the project states work is to be complete by July 15. In worst-case scenario, it must be completed by the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement festivities, which begin in late July or early August.
Accommodations for 200 people
A request for proposals states the project is to “include hardscaping, garden design, plant installation and enhancements to facilitate a passive park during weekdays and a transformed outdoor wedding venue for up to 200 people on weekends (and) should complement the recent renovation of the east side of the park.”
The already-renovated east portion of National First Ladies Library & Museum park fronts Market Avenue S in Canton. The west portion, to the rear, will be turned into an outdoor event and wedding venue.
Dowd Schmitz said quotes, or other recognition of First Ladies, will be incorporated into the venue in some manner.
Bussey pointed out the Library and park are at the southern tip of the Court Avenue corridor. She said the venue will make an ideal bookend “jewel” to the Palace Theatre, located on the north end.
Dowd Schmitz said a system will later be set up to log reservations and pay for use of the new park.
Reach Tim at 330-580-8333 or tim.botos@cantonrep.com.On X: @tbotosREP
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Wedding and event venue planned for Canton’s First Ladies park
Read the full article here
