Newark gazebo reappears 20 months after controversial removal

NEWARK – The gazebo, removed from the downtown Courthouse Square in October 2017, has finally reappeared in public view, on the county-owned grounds of the former Children's Home on East Main Street.

The gazebo sat in a county-owned parking lot behind the former Children's Home site until it was moved onto the middle of the lawn at 771 E. Main St., on Monday. 

At the time, the removal of the gazebo from its three-decade home on the northeast corner of the Licking County Courthouse grounds met with strong opposition on social media and during the public comment period at Newark City Council meetings. A majority of council members expressed concerns about the move at the time.

Mayor Jeff Hall previously said the addition of the Canal Market Plaza, opened in 2016, made a better venue for concerts and community events, and the courthouse grounds were overused at times.

The possibility of moving the gazebo, first discussed publicly in early 2016, was met with surprise and criticism from residents who were married there or remember special events they attended at the downtown landmark.

Licking County Commissioner Tim Bubb said on Wednesday the project should be completed about mid-summer, but the work schedule will be determined by the weather and the availability of contractors finding time away from their other projects.

Bubb said the county is doing what it promised to do almost two years ago, when it received the city landmark.

"We made a promise we'd save as much of it as we could and put it back in service," Bubb said. "A promise made and a promise kept."

The commissioner said the most common reaction he has heard is "thank you" for saving the structure.

In September 2017, Bubb said the gazebo would be installed at its new home in 2018.

"It rained all last year," Bubb said. "It depends on the weather. On days crews are available, weather is a factor. There's no emergency to it. And, it took awhile to raise funds."

Robertson Construction is the lead contractor, along with some sub contractors, Bubb said. Work began on the site about a month ago.

The total project cost is about $90,000, but that includes some in-kind donations, Bubb said. "The actual expense is about $50,000 to $60,000, all raised from private donations. No government funds are involved.

"We will have a completed list of donors (announced) when it's all done," Bubb said.

New shingles will be put onto the roof and electricity connected to the structure. The gazebo will no longer be elevated.

It's slightly raised now," Bubb said. "Before, it was 3 feet in the air and not ADA acceptable. This is actually an improvement, in my mind. It's closer to ground level."

Bubb said three historic park benches were discovered that can be located there, along with some original foundation stones from the old Children's Home building, built in 1886 and demolished in 2013.

kmallett@newarkadvocate.com

740-328-8545

Twitter: @kmallett1958