Print
E-Mail
tool name
closeFamily honors 12 with brick program
Sumner’s brick pavers program in Heritage Park draws longtime residents to honor several siblings, relatives
Roxanne Cooke
This summer, orders for brick pavers in Sumner’s Heritage Park are more than double over last year.
In 2007, only 10 orders were placed for the engraved bricks, which are often purchased to honor loved ones, said Sally Abrams, administrative specialist for the city.
So far this year, 28 bricks have been ordered — and 12 of those are for one family.
Sumner resident Cheryl Ray, her eight siblings, parents, grandparents and her husband’s grandparents will soon have their own bricks installed behind the gazebo in Heritage Park. Having a brick for all nine children was something Ray’s mother had always wanted, so when she passed away two years ago it made sense to grant that wish.
“After dividing everything after we lost our mom, there was some odd money left, and we decided we wanted to do something with it that meant something to Mom,” said Ray, the third oldest sibling. “She always loved Sumner and was really interested in (Heritage Park) and the stones. We realized it would mean something to her.”
Sumner is home to the entire family, she said. All the children went through the school district and most remain in Sumner or at least close to the town.
“It just seemed appropriate,” Ray said. “Everybody grew up in Sumner.”
Ray’s family will have a reunion July 4 and plan to view the bricks at Heritage Park. Each brick’s text is a little different, but all relay a connection to Sumner.
“It was such a part of us and it still is,” Ray said.
The brick pavers program started almost 10 years ago, Abrams said. Applications are only accepted in the summer, when the weather is nice enough to be able to cement the bricks at Heritage Park behind its iconic gazebo.
The park’s full name is Rueben A. Knoblauch Heritage Park, named for the late state senator who donated money used for purchasing the land and other materials. Heritage Park was designed and constructed in 1995 and ‘96.
The brick pavers program fits in with the theme of the park, Abrams said.
“We decided to do this to honor individuals in the city,” she said.
It’s a good opportunity for locals to leave their legacy in town, Abrams said. But being a Sumner resident isn’t necessarily a requirement.
“Honor anyone you’d like,” she said.
Bricks cost $35 each and the text limit is three lines, or a total of 20 characters.
-------------------------------------------------
HERITAGE PARK BRICK PAVERS
Bricks cost $35, which includes a total of three lines and 20 characters.
Brick pavers are installed in a circle of bricks behind the gazebo in Sumner’s Rueben A. Knoblauch Heritage Park, located at the corner of
Kincaid Avenue, Cherry Avenue and Main Street. For more information or to purchase a brick, call Sally Abrams, administrative specialist for the city, at 253-299-5520.