Richland Park looks a little bit fancier these days thanks in part to the Sidney Area Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture leadership class of 2009.

Over the course of a few months last winter, members of the leadership class looked at various options to improve the area based on certain needs and leaving a lasting impression. “We took a vote on some different ideas, and the class voted one of the needs to enhance the community would be good signage at Richland Park,” chamber executive director and class member Wade VanEvery said.

The class chose to engrave a sandstone rock found from within the county to use it as the new sign for the entrance, and while connections led to utilizing the expertise of county public works to do preliminary work, the class began preparing the site in the spring. A Froid company, Azure and Son, was hired to do the engraving, which was possible because of the Walleyes Unlimited MonDak Chapter, who paid for the work to be done. Doug Hill, chapter president and whose wife, Jill, was in the leadership class, said the Walleyes were happy to support the project.

Now that the sign is in place, there is still a little bit more to be done this spring when the group covers the sheeting with scoria and will “dress it up a little bit” with weeding and the like. “It turned out to be a classy thing,” VanEvery said.

While the leadership program is designed to train future leaders of Richland County, the class project is designed to put what they learned during the course of the year and work together as a team. Past projects include building a picnic area at Veterans Memorial Park and creating an information center at the Richland Municipal Airport.

“During the course year, we provide them with education on how to do team work and how to do decision making,” VanEvery said, “and so we use a class project for them to apply that information they received.”

The project was chosen because work to enhance the park has taken place over the last few years. The former plywood sign just wouldn’t cut it anymore. “It just did not fit how nice the park looked,” he said. Other projects considered included playground equipment for parks in town and setting benches along the walking trail.

VanEvery said he was happy with the way the project turned out and will look back with admiration. “By having a leadership class project, people can look back and they can see where they’ve left a mark on the community,” he said.

reporter@sidneyherald.com