Prospect Community Park - Prospect, Ohio
Posted by: 
Mr. 0
N 40° 26.948 W 083° 11.025
17T E 314815 N 4479898
Located at the southern end of 5th St. in Prospect, Ohio.
Waymark Code: WM1A9M
Location: Ohio, United States
Date Posted: 03/12/2007
Views: 74
Prospect Community Park has several features for the local residents. It has 3 baseball fields, an extensive playground, several shelter houses, walking trails, and wooded green space to enjoy. This is the site of the annual 4th of July festivities which includes games for the kids, bingo, and a variety of food. Naturally at dark there are fireworks as well. Even though the town is small (a little over 1,000 residents), and the fireworks and festivities aren't a multi-million dollar production, it always attracts visitors from all over the area. It's almost impossible to find a piece of grass to sit on if you don't stake your claim well before the fireworks start.
The playground features several swings, slides, and jungle gyms. There is also a model train made of concrete and wood to climb in and around. In my youth it wasn't nearly as nice here, but over the past several years many improvements have been made to not only the playground, but to the entire park as a whole. It's a great place to come with the kids and enjoy a picnic lunch!
The park is somewhat seasonal. You are able to enter the park year-around, however during the winter, they block off all but the parking area for the playground, and they lock the restrooms.
The southern boundary of the park is formed by a creek named the "Battle Run." According to local history, in 1820 the frontier settlements of what is now Prospect and the surrounding townships became frightened by the possibility of attack by the Wyandot Indians. A group of settlers formed a horseback patrol called the "Light Horse Guards." They were stationed in Big Island and made frequent trips to the Prospect area. During one of their trips to the area the Guards stopped to water their horses at the Battle Run. One of the Light Horse Guards, named Morgan, got into a skirmish with an Indian who demanded Morgan's necktie. During the fight, Morgan grabbed the Indian's gun and hit him over the head. At that time a number of Indians came out of hiding and began to shoot at the settlers. Naturally, the Guards fled, and no one else was injured. The next day, the Light Horse Guards returned to find the Indians still in the area. The man that Morgan had hit was found with a blanket over his head over a hot pot of water. This method was used to cure many ailments. The Indian and Morgan agreed to terms of peace. Morgan was to give a cart-load of pumpkins to the Indian, and in return the Indian was to provide Morgan with a saddle of venison. Following that peace was returned to the settlement and the native villages of the area.
Also of interest to some are the ball fields at the park. One is named for Bob Rodgers, former manager of the Montreal Expos, and a Prospect native. Another is named for Larry Barnett, former American League baseball umpire, and also a native of Prospect. The third field is named for Jerry Layne, current National League baseball umpire, who grew up in Prospect. I know that Mr. Barnett still lives in Prospect, but I'm not 100% sure about Mr. Rodgers. I know his parents did, and he used to be in town a lot to visit them. Mr. Layne, from what I can find, now lives in Florida.