Parks & Gardens

The park, a thin sliver of land lying along Jefferson Drive between Country Lane and Thompson Drive, is a memorial to former neighborhood resident, Ann Alison Hoover. It was created through a public and private cooperative effort. The five acres of land the park sits on was donated by Tom and Marianne Anderson; Ann had once been Marianne's babysitter. Ross Township assumed ownership of and responsibility for the land, its public works crews helped in construction and Ross Township Commissioner Daniel Kinross allocated more than $15,000 for the project. Former State Representative David Mayernik helped secure almost $50,000 in state grants and the NHECA organized two memorial brick sales. Over $30,000 was raised by the sales -- the bricks are inscribed with personal messages and set in place beneath the gazebo.

 

A large group of volunteers led by North Hills Estates residents Yvonne Brandon, Rob Butorac and Larry Ridenour put in over 2000 hours of work preparing, planting and maintaining the flowers, shrubbery, walking paths and benches that fill the park. On June 1st, 2002, on what would have been Ann's 50th birthday, the community gathered together to do just that. Politicians, church leaders, the North Hills High School Marching band, and many friends, relatives and neighbors of Ann dedicated the small park at the corner of Jefferson Drive and Country Lane. The park has become a gathering point for the neighborhood, both for formal events such as Christmas in the Park, and as a place where neighbors just stop to rest, chat with friends and enjoy the beauty of the park.