Mary Anne Gates

HUNTERTOWN – Spring and summer events are gearing up in Huntertown.

Two popular events are scheduled for the coming days.

The Huntertown Family Park, 2302 Woods Road, is the site of the busy Huntertown Community Market.

May 10 kicks off the 2025 market season. Both residents and visitors come to the market to shop, play and enjoy the park.

Meanwhile, a poker run fundraiser is set for May 18. The event is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Huntertown. The spirited activity begins and ends at the park.

The poker run brings the business community and residents together. Several local businesses join in the fun to raise money for park improvements.

“The Huntertown Family Park is a non-profit. There is no governmental funding for the park. It is our community park. Everything that happens there happens because of what we, as volunteers do,” Sherry Myers, community organizer, said.

Myers owns the Well Grounded Café, 14517 Lima Road. She is also a member of the Rotary Club of Huntertown.

Huntertown Community Market

More than 80 area vendors are set to display and sell locally made handcrafted items at the Huntertown Community Market. Food trucks are also expected to be on hand.

The market is open on the second Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from May through September. However, the August market hours may be different due to the Huntertown Heritage Days parade in the morning. August market hours have not yet been announced.

Poker run fundraiser

The Huntertown Poker Run fundraiser is set for May 18. Participants may use a golf cart, a bike, a car or walk the course while drawing a playing card at each stop. The cost is $10 per hand.

Players are asked to meet at 1:45 p.m. in the park. The poker run will end at the park at 3:30 p.m. to determine who collected the best poker hand.

Participating Poker Run businesses include:

• Sweet Sanity Ice Cream, 15512 Lima Road

• Well Made & More, 14505 Lima Road

• Salt & Pepper Scratch Kitchen, 15805 Lima Road

• The Process/Josh’s Jungle, 14547 Lima Road

• Wizard’s World Pinball, 14613 Lima Road

Park improvements

The Huntertown Family Park, like most things, began more than 10 years ago because residents wanted it.

Established in 2013 town leadership and residents have worked together to turn an empty plot of ground and the adjoining woods into 27 acres of inviting, community space.

Park improvements are always ongoing. Many have said they would like to see improved parking and more things for children to do in the playground space.

“The priority projects for the park are a playground and a parking lot,” Myers said.

Infrastructure improvements include:

• Online registration for event rentals

• Amphitheatre bandshell

• Two storage rooms

• Wi-fi in the park

• Sound system

• Security system/locks

• Concession stand makeover

• Mulch laid throughout the woods

• Electric service to pickleball area and amphitheater

• Concrete path completion

Events are ongoing and are held throughout the year. These include:

• Concert Series on the second Friday of the month in June, July and September

• Heritage Days concerts on Aug. 1 and Aug. 2

• Easter egg hunt

• Halloween at the Park

• Christmas tree lighting ceremony

Installations include:

• Sand volleyball

• Six pickleball courts and pickleball pavilion

• Sidewalk games

• New Christmas tree

• New picnic tables

• Interactive trolley/interurban near playground

Other improvements include:

• Dog park equipment refresh

• Rain garden improvements

• Little Library relocation/refresh

• Trolley park mascot