FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(GRAND LAKE ST. MARYS) โ€“ The Lake Improvement Association is excited to host a ribbon cutting for the new All Abilities Playground at 11 a.m. Wednesday, September 16, at the First Shelter House on East Bank Road. 

The ribbon cutting will coincide with the LIAโ€™s annual Kids Fishing Derby for developmentally disabled children. The public is invited to the ribbon cutting, and the LIA is seeking volunteers to make cookies and other baked goods (no peanuts or tree nuts, please), help serve, and help the kids bait their hooks.

Interested in volunteering? Hereโ€™s the schedule:

8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.: Set up tables, prepare hot dogs and drop off baked goods
10 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.: Buses and kids start arriving; volunteers serve food
10:30 a.m.: Kids begin fishing; volunteers assist with baiting hooks and removing fish
11 a.m.: All Abilities Playground ribbon cutting
2:30 p.m.: The event will last until approximately 2:30 p.m.

The LIA would also like to thank the generous donors who made the All Abilities Playground possible: 


โ€ข Auglaize County Board of Developmental Disabilities
โ€ข St. Marys Eagles FOE 767
โ€ข American Legion Post 241 (New Bremen)
โ€ข American Legion Post 323 (St. Marys)
โ€ข First Financial Bank
โ€ข Grand Lake Family Dentistry
โ€ข Grand Lake Recreation Club
โ€ข Jamie & Michelle O’Neal
โ€ข Anna Katterhenry (in memory of David Sampson)
โ€ข Leugers Insurance
โ€ข Minster Bank
โ€ข Sons of American Legion 241 (New Bremen)
โ€ข South Shore Sportsman Club
โ€ข St. Marys Community Foundation
โ€ข St. Marys Foundry
โ€ข St. Marys Kiwanis
โ€ข St. Marys Rotary
โ€ข The People’s Bank Co.
โ€ข VFW Post 9289 (St. Marys)

For more information, visit: https://lakeimprovement.com/event/kids-fishing-derby-2026/

The purpose of the Lake Improvement Association is to promote closer fellowship and cooperation among farmers, landing owners and park operators; to advance the general improvement of the lake, its shores, channels, creeks, landings, parks and land in order to promote good health, soil stability, and clean, wholesome recreation for the public and private use of the area adjacent to the shores of the Grand Lake St. Marys, located in Mercer and Auglaize counties in the State of Ohio.