MOUNT VERNON — Members of the Foundation Park Conservancy have suggested that the western part of Ariel-Foundation Park is an ideal location for a historic 1800s cabin.
The cabin is on Burtnett Road; the Knox County Historical Society has to dismantle it by November. In August, Mark Ramser, on behalf of the historical society, requested council’s permission to locate the cabin near the Dan Emmett House and CA&C Depot.
In a letter to Mayor Richard Mavis, Michael Percy, vice president of the conservancy, suggested the western part of the park as an alternative location. “The conservancy has long desired to facilitate the development of the western region of the park with the desire to include restrooms, picnic facilities and a heritage area,” he wrote.
The concept is to create a traditional early homestead for Knox County with the cabin as the centerpiece. Restroom facilities would replicate an early area barn. The site would also have other accessory buildings, a prairie area and a tree grove that includes the 50 species of trees native to Ohio. “This vision would create an area that would, with the assistance of the historical society and the agricultural museum, provide a display that would provide substantial use and exposure for all organizations involved,” he wrote.
Mavis told city council members on Monday that the city owns both parcels of land and that council has to approve the final location. He said there were more negatives with the park location regarding potential vandalism. Conservancy members requested an on-site meeting with city officials and historical society representatives to discuss the issue.