RUTLANDOHIO
Tyler M. Eblin, Mayor
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
Welcome
The Village of Rutland Department of Parks and Recreation is a department of volunteers which exercise jurisdiction over Village parks and recreational facilities, programs and services, as well as community beautification. The Department consists of the Director of Parks and Recreation and parks and recreational assistants, who fulfill their duties on a voluntary basis.
The Department works with the Department of Public Service with overseeing and ensuring the care and maintenance of the James Vennari Memorial Park, Sammy Robinson Field, and the Rutland Civic Center. The Department additionally organizes and implements recreational events, programs, services and beautification projects.
Interested in becoming a parks and recreation volunteer? Click the volunteer form provided to get started! We appreciate your interest and look forward to working with you!
Contact
Rutland Civic Center-Village Hall337 Main Street, Suite 100Rutland, Ohio 45775Telephone: (740) 742 2121 Ext. 1007📧 Send an e-Mail
James Vennari Memorial Park
For over a decade, the Jim Vennari Park has promoted the quality of life in the Village of Rutland. Made possible through a donation from Martha Ohlinger Vennari in honor of her late husband, James "Jim" Vennari, the Jim Vennari Park offers a time of enjoyment and recreation for families and children of all ages.Â
The park supplements other municipal parks situated in the community, including the Rutland Firemen's Park and the Sammy "Red" Robinson Field. General maintenance of the Park is overseen by the Village Street Commissioner and provided by the Village Service Department.
Park Facilities
The Jim Vennari Park provides an array of playground equipment for children of all ages to enjoy. Situated on park grounds includes:
A complete jungle gym complemented with four slides and other fun equipment
A fire engine bounce spring
A four seat swing set
Four slides
Two basketball hoops
Two horse bounce springs
Two see saws
Accommodations for family gatherings include:
A full size shelter house with seated tables
Three park benches and one park swing
Charcoal grills situated throughout the park
The park grounds are complimented with beautiful plants and trees providing optional shade for those gathering for enjoyment or recreation.
Park Rules and Regulations
To provide for an enjoyable and safe recreational environment at the Jim Vennari Park, the following useful information, guidelines, rules and regulations are provided. Additionally, such are posted conspicuously on Park grounds. We ask that such be strictly adhered to and followed; and remind those utilizing the Park will be held responsible for their actions.
The playground is for use by children between the ages of two and twelve.
Adult supervision is recommended.
Do not wear bicycle helmets or loose clothing on playground equipment.
Caution: Surfaces may be hot due to sun exposure.
Do not play on equipment installed over hard surfaces.
No alcohol permitted on park property.
The park opens at dawn and closes at dusk.
No political signs permitted on park property. Fines will be enforced.
Use of the park shelter house for social gatherings of 10 or more persons, or for rummage sales, will require a permit from the Mayor's Office.
No alcohol permitted on park property.
Yard sales are only permitted on the first Friday and Saturday of May, June, August, September and October. No yard sales are permitted at the park in July.
Quiet hours must be observed during services held by the Rutland Church of the Nazarene.
Please, clean up after use. Absolutely no littering is permitted. Fines will be enforced.
Rutland Civic Center
The Rutland Civic Center was erected in 1955 and originally opened as an annex to Rutland High School. Following the closure of Rutland High School in 1968, the Meigs Local Board of Education continued to utilize the building for school district functions, including basketball games, theatrical programs, and vocational mining courses. In 1974, the band room was renovated and converted to house the station for Rutland Emergency Medical Services. In 1982, the Village of Rutland acquired the building and subsequently converted rooms into government offices. Today, the Rutland Civic Center continues to serve the Village of Rutland as a vital community facility. The building houses the Village of Rutland municipal government and serves as a community building for social gatherings.
To learn more about the Rutland Civic Center and to reserve a space for your event, click here.
Sammy "Red" Robinson Fields
The Sammy "Red" Robinson Fields are three beautifully maintained baseball fields for use by the general public. With the current suspension of the Rutland Youth League, reservations of any of the three baseball fields for practices and games will require a reservation certificate from the Mayor's Office. Otherwise, use of the fields are allowed on a first come, first serve basis.
The Vennari Legacy
The James H. "Jim" Vennari Park earned its name from the Rutland Village Council as a result of dedication and professionalism to the Rutland community exhibited by the late James H. Vennari, a beloved administrator, coach and educator of Rutland High School.
Born October 24, 1907 in Lumberport, West Virginia, Mr. Vennari began his adulthood by serving his country during World War II as a foreign war veteran achieving the rank of master sergeant. At the same time, Mr. Vennari was working with the Pittsburg Pirates as a professional baseball scout. While traveling, Mr. Vennari located a "coach wanted" sign for Rutland High School. The Western Local Board of Education accepted the Superintendent's recommendation on the employment of Mr. Vennari and he would coach all contact sports for Rutland High School for the next 15 years. Not only this, Mr. Vennari would serve as principal of the High School as well as an educator of pupils who attended there.
During his tenure at Rutland High School as coach, his success earned him a record of 11 winning seasons and seven championships in the Southeastern Ohio Athletic League (SEOAL). Mr. Vennari was named Coach of the Year in Ohio in 1959. Mr. Vennari would later become principal of Rutland Elementary School for seven years following the Meigs Local consolidation that closed Rutland High School. In 1968, Mr. Vennari married his wife Martha Ohlinger Vennari and later scouted for the Cincinnati Reds until his retirement in 1995.
Mr. Vennari is a graduate of Salem International University of Salem, West Virginia, where he played football and earned his bachelor's degree in education. Later, Mr. Vennari would obtain his master's degree in education from West Virginia University.
A member of American Legion-Drew Webster Post 39, Meigs County Historical Society, Meigs County Retired Teachers Association, Ohio Retired Teachers Association, and the National Education Association, Mr. Vennari was honored as as Kentucky Colonel.
Mr. Vennari passed away at the age of 100 years at Overbrook Rehabilitation Center in Middleport, Ohio. He is interred with his late wife at Middleport Riverview Cemetery.
Mr. James H. Vennari