Loveland, Ohio – Here is a Loveland Magazine Documentary. It is a love story of how 27 years ago the Simpson Farm in the West Loveland Historic District was preserved in its pristine beauty and in perpetuity.
Local residents banded together and fought hard to establish a 41-acre conservation covenant that was eventually placed on the Simpson Farm deed.
You will learn how the Drees’ bulldozers and proposed condos eventually lost traction and were steered away from Loveland.
It was a four-year “labor of love” to keep the acreage in the heart of our “Sweetheart City” untouched by human hands so all future generations of girls and boys could fall in love with it as well.
You can win the fight against City Hall and “developers” when precious greenspace needs protecting.
This is a love story. As often happens, love stories often mingle with their nightmares and the familiar sleepless nights. First, the love story though, and perhaps at a later time what the current heartache is.
(You can view the story in a larger size by using the “+” button.)
Here you can watch the accompanying video. Featured are the sights and sounds of the wildlife that resides on the “Farm”. The primary reason for the effort that began 25 years ago was to provide a sanctuary and a peaceful place for the animals you see in this video.
The Restrictive Covenant Establishing the Conservation District
Parents sit along the outfield to watch their kids play during a Wednesday night pick-up game at at Phillips Park in Loveland, Ohio.
Joe Timmerman graduated from Loveland High School in 2019 and will return to his studies in photojournalism at Ohio University this month.
By Joe Timmerman
Loveland, Ohio – Walking up to the baseball fields at Phillips Park on Wednesday July 29, the air feels like summer again as the fields are full with kids living in America’s pastime.
Every Wednesday night since the first week of July, as the sun sets in Loveland, Ohio, kids have been playing baseball together again. Since the COVID-19 pandemic has brought upon these unusual times of social distancing, quarantine, and the cancellation of most future gatherings — the Loveland Youth Baseball Organization came up with the idea of pick-up baseball games.
With youth sports becoming seemingly more and more competitive as each year goes by, it was refreshing to watch a Sandlot-esq pick up game happening in our own town.
In conversation with Matt Kapszukiewicz, the president of LYBO, I learned that they had been throwing the idea of pick-up games around for about a year or so, and that Rob Steinman, another LYBO board member, originally came up with the idea. “We decided to launch it because these older kids had no-one else to play against… so we blended them into a t-shirt league once we got a handle on what COVID-19 meant,” Kapszukiewicz said.
A warm up pitch is thrown before the last inning of a pick-up game with no score on Wednesday July 29 at Phillips Park in Loveland, Ohio.
When my dad and I made it to the third base fence line with our baseball gloves in hand to check out the night’s pick up game, there were a couple open spots in the outfield. Tom Sackett, my dad’s friend and the supervisor for the game, told us to run out and join in. Before too long, I overheard a conversation between the right fielder and the infield players.
“Yeah, I don’t even know… it doesn’t matter.”
“Hey, what’s the score?”
“Uh, 1-0 maybe”
“Yeah, I don’t even know… it doesn’t matter.”
With youth sports becoming seemingly more and more competitive as each year goes by, it was refreshing to watch this a Sandlot-esq pick up game happening in our own town.
“These kids are having a blast out here… just run out there and do whatever you want, play wherever you want,” Sackett said. Sackett is a former LYBO board president and the coach of the Loveland Express, a 16u team that his son plays on, who like most teams this summer, had their season cancelled.
“These kids are having a blast out here… just run out there and do whatever you want, play wherever you want,” Sackett said.
About half of the 16 kids that showed up to play are 16 year olds, the rest are 15, and they all go to Loveland High School.
After talking to a few parents who came to watch the game, I found out that there are usually about twice as many kids that show up to play on Wednesdays, but a player on Loveland’s football team tested positive which resulted in a quarantine for the entire team.
We had more fans than the Reds!
“(These games) are providing an opportunity for the kids to get out and get some exercise, everything else has pretty much been cancelled at this point. Kids, friends, and even the adults had something to do… just sitting there watching a pick-up baseball game — we had more fans than the Reds. (Wednesday nights) have been valuable for building community and offering an opportunity to stay fit,” Kapszukiewicz said. “We (LYBO) didn’t charge anything, we provided umpires — it kind of cost us money to put on, but it was an investment that was worth it. We just wanted kids to get out and play ball.”
LYBO is putting teams together this week for organized fall baseball games as local teams are starting to want to play again. From ages four and up, spring sign ups will start as early as December. You can sign up for fall or spring baseball or find more information on getting involved with Loveland Youth Baseball Organization on LYBO.org
A 16u baseball player walks to his position during a Wednesday night pick-up game on July 29, 2020 in Loveland, Ohio.
A 16u baseball player walks to his position during a Wednesday night pick-up game on July 29, 2020 in Loveland, Ohio.
Tom Sackett, LYBO board member and father of one of the players, helps make sure each position is filled and kids are social-distancing on Wednesday night pick-up games.
Kids social distance while they wait their turn to step up to the plate.
Matt Kapszukiewicz, LYBO president, and Tyler Litchfield, LYBO board member, watch the 13 and 14 year olds play in a pick-up game at the field below the 15 and 16 year olds.
Parents sit along the outfield to watch their kids play during this Wednesday night pick-up game.
A warm up pitch is thrown before the last inning of a pick-up game with no score on Wednesday July 29, 2020 at Phillips Park in Loveland, Ohio.
Loveland and Symmes Township, Ohio – The City of Loveland issued a press release on June 3rd announcing a collaboration on Independence Day celebrations with Symmes Township.
The release said that Loveland’s share of the fireworks would be set off at Boike Park at Loveland High School.
Loveland Magazine just learned that Loveland’s fireworks will instead be launched from a location inside Phillips Park.
After a reader noticed the discrepancy on a map we shared this morning from the City’s FaceBook page we asked about it.
Assistant to the City Manager, Misty Brents just told Loveland Magazine, “Rozzi decided Phillips would be the better location.”
“Look for These Signs” of our times
Corrected Story
Loveland’s and Symmes Township’s annual Independence Day celebrations have been canceled for this year. City Manager David Kennedy said in a press release on July 3 that the decision was made “out of health concerns for our residents and is consistent with public health concerns over holding large attendance events.”
The City and Township will hold two simultaneous, “park and watch” fireworks shows on Saturday, July 4.
Symmes Township Administrator, Kimberly Lapensee said in a press release, “Symmes Township is so excited to partner with the City of Loveland to celebrate the 4th of July while keeping our community safe.”
Fireworks will be set off at Phillips Park and Symmes Park on Lebanon Road on Saturday, July 4 at a time that has not yet been announced.
It is being recommended that residents who live near the parks are asked to stay at home to enjoy the show. Others are encouraged to watch from their cars “remaining socially distant” at parking locations to be announced.
Both the City and the Township say that no festivals are scheduled at this time.
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