Thousands of people have visited the Ada Park – officially known as the Liberty Township Park District –  in the past quarter century. 

They’ve attended Farmers and Merchants Picnics, plus watched one or countless games of football, softball, soccer, track, baseball, midget football and youth soccer. 

Or, they walked their dog, took a stroll to enjoy the trees as they bloomed each spring and turned red and orange in the fall, or had a picnic in the park.

During the past 25 years, one of the three members of the board who oversees Ada’s favorite playground is Tony Wolke.

On Monday he retired as a park board member. The board recognized Tony and his wife, Vicki, for their participation over the years in the park. In addition to Tony’s 25-year board membership, Vicki was a past park clerk for 10 years.

The park board is just one of Wolke’s active roles in Ada. In addition, for 38 years he was a member of the Ohio Northern University grounds crew. And, he and his wife, Vicki, are both life-long Ada residents, both are 1971 Ada HS grads.

Randy Preston was named as Wolke’s replacement to the board on Monday. He joins other board member, Bob Szuch, board president, and Ron Klingler. Jane Lee is the clerk of the board. The board meets at 7:30 p.m., the third Monday of the month in the park board office on North Park Drive.