City to rename park after community leader

“The Parks (and Recreation) Commission was delighted to entertain and support this idea,” said City Councilwoman Kathleen Klink.

Parks Commission member Steve Timmer proposed the name change a few months ago, as a way to both honor Grimm’s contributions to the city and to reduce confusion over Hamilton’s two Wilson-named parks.

“I thought, why not name it after someone worthwhile,” he said.

The 21-acre park was named for its proximity to Wilson Middle School, according to City Public Works Director Rich Engle, and having the public pool located there solidified the name. But the two-acre Howard “Hack” Wilson Park sits on Eastview Parkway, and the name change can reduce chances of mistakes in meeting places.

“Mr. Grimm’s activities warrant the name change,” Councilman Tim Naab said upon the resolution’s approval. During a 38-year career with the Hamilton City Schools, Grimm began several physical education programs for students, including the Wilson Circus, Saturday Morning Open Gym, and the Big Blue Flip Twisters tumbling team.

As city recreation director, he founded many programs such as the original Pumpkin Festival, and developed the Rotary Show Wagon. He was also instrumental in opening the Booker T. Washington Community Center, 1140 S. Front St. and the Murstein Center for Senior Citizens.

He served on the 1976 bicentennial celebration committee, and served a crucial role in obtaining a Liberty Bell replica, one of two in Ohio, for Hamilton for the celebration. That bell was out of commission for six years until the parks commission, led by chairwoman Gerry Hammond, also Grimm's daughter, made efforts to return it to its rack outside of 20 High St.

Now that the name change will take effect, more activity lies ahead for the park, Timmer said. A new sign will be designed and installed at the park, and the Hamilton High School Career Technical Education carpentry class is building a new shelter this year to be installed next to the new sprayground, which opened July 19.

“We have plans to turn it into a full service park,” Timmer said. “There’s no park in that entire quadrant of the city.”

“(Grimm) was a unique individual, and we had a lot of them in Hamilton,” he continued. “But there couldn’t be a better guy to name the park after.”