New stadium lights replace obsolete system

By Paula Pyzik Scott

Ada’s War Memorial Park is home to athletic facilities used by the Ada Schools and youth sports leagues, the Ada Municipal Pool, picnic shelters, restrooms, a band shell and playground. The park is owned and operated by Liberty Township, which provided the following report for Fall 2025.

STADIUM LIGHTS
The stadium at Ada War Memorial Park has new LED lighting for the football field. The lights are much brighter and the lifespan of the LED lights is longer than the sodium-vapor lights they replaced. The cost of the upgrade was $220K.

A computer controls the lighting system and has a special feature that allows the lights to "dance" when Ada teams score. This is a $25,000 feature donated by the manufacturer. The Ada field will demonstrate the system for other schools.

The old lights and oil switches were obsolete. The Park was having trouble finding the bulbs and the wiring was dangerous. Components in the field lighting were 40-80 years old.

FUTURE UPDATES

War Memorial Park will have a new shelter house and a concession building. Shelter #2 and the stadium concession stand are at least 60 years old. In the playground, mulch will be replaced with rubberized pellets. The Board is also looking at a spiral slide and playhouse, if funds allow.

These updates are being funded by a $500K grant from the State of Ohio, with the Park funding $250K of improvements.

BOARD MEMBERS

The park board is currently comprised of Bob Szuch (president), Paul Fletcher and Jamie Hall. Members are appointed by the Judge of Common Pleas Court, a process in place since 1948. All board members are volunteers; they are not compensated for their service. The Park is managed by Kenny Wolke. Mary Jan Lee is the board secretary.

Szuch expresses his thanks to former board members Fred Reichert and Neal Dumbaugh.

War Memorial Park is “fun for the whole family,” says Szuch. He notes that people walk the track around the football field every day and that in the spring, “on any given weeknight, there are between 500 and 1000 people” at the Park. He also notes that the Municipal Pool attracts busloads from Findlay and Lima.

The Park Board meets on the third Monday of every month at 7:00 p.m. at the Park Office at the corner of S. Simon St. and N. Park Dr.