Colombo Park in Parma Heights holds grand opening to public

PARMA HEIGHTS, Ohio - A Parma Heights lot that sat vacant for 26 years is now a city park for residents to enjoy.

Margaret Colombo donated Colombo Park to the city in memory of her late husband, developer Charles Colombo. On Monday, a grand opening celebration was held at the park located at 6338 Pearl Rd., just west of Stumph Road.

Colombo Park was modeled after a Tuscan garden. There was a fountain that greeted visitors as they entered the park. The three-quarter acre park also contained walking trails, benches, lamp posts and woodcarvings.

In 2010, the city of Parma Heights was awarded a Community Development Block Grant from the Cuyahoga County Department of Development to purchase the property with the stipulation that Margaret Colombo would donate a park back to the city.

"I'd like to see families come here and walk in the park and just sit and relax and enjoy," said Margaret.

"It re-energizes this area of the city," said Parma Heights Mayor Michael Byrne. "We've been working very hard on redeveloping up and down Pearl Road and this is a vital piece of it."

At the end of the program, Byrne declared Oct. 22, 2012 as Margaret and Charles Colombo Day in Parma Heights.