Wadsworth Square Commons has announced the start of a major renovation to the green park space facing Main Street in downtown Wadsworth. The project, part of a full campus overhaul of the former Central Intermediate School property, officially began this week and will eventually create a central gathering space for the community.
“This will be a special place downtown, one that people can enjoy and that will honor those who helped shape our city,” said Wadsworth Square’s Todd Baughman.
Over the past few months, arborists and tree companies assessed the large oak in the park and determined it has severe internal damage. With large limbs rotting and the trunk beginning to hollow, experts concluded the tree had become a safety risk to the public. As a precaution, the oak was removed along with other overgrowth and damaged plants.
“We had to think of public safety,” said project manager and partner Bob Thurber. “We didn’t want a rotted tree ending up in the roadway.”
Although work is beginning now, the full transformation won’t be visible until 2026, when a new “Legacy Park” is unveiled. The plan is to clear and level the space, creating a fresh canvas before spring planting and construction begin.
Tom Weyand, director of the Wadsworth Square Foundation, noted that even though the community will miss the historic oak, its removal opens new opportunities. “We’re hoping to re-purpose some of the wood from the trunk and create something even more meaningful for the park area,” he said.
When completed, the new green space will serve as a hub for business, concerts, and community events, an evolving project that leaders say will grow along with the city itself.
