Friendship Park (Ohio)

Friendship Park
Friendship Park (Ohio) is located in Ohio
Friendship Park (Ohio)
Location within Ohio
Nearest citySmithfield, Ohio
Coordinates40°17′24″N 80°46′41″W / 40.290°N 80.778°W / 40.290; -80.778
Area1,320 acres (530 ha)[1]
Websitefriendship.jeffersoncountyoh.com

Friendship Park is a public park near Smithfield, Ohio.

History

The park authority was disbanded in early October 1970 due to criticism that it was being insufficiently proactive.[2] The park was established on land donated by the Consolidated Coal Company in August 1972. An earthen dam was completed the same month.[3]

Former airport

The Jefferson County Airport (FAA LID: 44D) was a public use airport located near Smithfield, Ohio.[4]

The county initially attempted to obtain one of the $100,000 airport grants from the state, but failed when it did not secure a site before funds ran out in late June 1967.[5] Nevertheless, by the middle of the next month a bill was introduced in the Ohio General Assembly to reinitiate the grant.[6]

The site, 12th on a list of possible locations, was selected in late August 1968 due to an impending deadline for the grant.[7][8] An approximately 113-acre (46 ha) deed for an airstrip was given to the county in mid September 1968.[8] By one month later, the grant had been awarded.[9] However, in mid October 1969, the FAA threatened to cancel funding for the airport due the county going ahead with site selection and planning.[10] Relations improved after the county commissioners explained that they were forced to move ahead with the project due to a deadline for the state grant.[11] The majority of grading for the 3,500-by-65-foot (1,067 m × 20 m) runway had been completed by mid September 1970.[12] A strike by coal miners in October 1971 prevented supplies necessary for work on the runway base from being transported to the site.[13] Paving of the runway was ready to begin in late September 1972 and completed the following week.[14][15] The airport was opened in October 1972.[3] The county received two checks totaling approximately $35,000 in mid January 1973.[16]

The airport was dedicated on 14 September 1975.[17] The bids for the construction of a terminal building were at least twice rejected and re-advertised before a contract was awarded in late October 1976.[18][19] The facility was officially named the Jefferson County Airport in early May 1977.[20] In mid April 1978, after a year of trying, the airport was finally able to obtain fuel. At the same time, a flight school had expressed interest in using the airport.[21]

By 1985, the airport was severely underutilized due to its remote location.[7] A few months after a proposal in late February, guardrails had been installed and the airport converted into a dragstrip.[22][23]

Facilities

The Jefferson County Fairgrounds are located at the park.[24]

The park has two RV campgrounds.[25]

References

  1. ↑ "Friendship Park". Jefferson County, Ohio. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
  2. ↑ "Friendship Park Board Dissolved". Steubenville Herald-Star. 10 October 1970. pp. 1, 7. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  3. 1 2 "The History of Friendship Park". Jefferson County, Ohio. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
  4. ↑ Freeman, Paul (19 November 2025). "Southeastern Ohio". Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  5. ↑ "County Loses State Grant for Airport Construction". Steubenville Herald-Star. 27 June 1967. p. 1. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  6. ↑ "County Airport Project Revived by SADC". Steubenville Herald-Star. 11 August 1967. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  7. 1 2 Kirker, John (26 March 1985). "Friendship Air Facility Usage Report Detailed". The Herald-Star. p. 8. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
  8. 1 2 "County Given Deed for Land Designated Airport Site". Steubenville Herald-Star. 18 September 1968. p. 13. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
  9. ↑ "Firm Hired for Airport Development". Steubenville Herald-Star. 16 October 1968. p. 15. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  10. ↑ "Airport Development Plan Hits FAA Planning Snag". Steubenville Herald-Star. 18 October 1969. p. 11. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
  11. ↑ "County to Seek Water Line Study Loan". Steubenville Herald-Star. 8 November 1969. p. 13. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  12. ↑ "Friendship Park". Steubenville Herald-Star. 18 September 1970. p. 6. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
  13. ↑ "Friendship Park Progress Reported". Steubenville Herald-Star. 30 October 1971. p. 13. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  14. ↑ "Friendship Park Opening Readied". Steubenville Herald-Star. 30 September 1972. p. 13. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
  15. ↑ "Friendship Park Water Data Noted". Steubenville Herald-Star. 7 October 1972. p. 13. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
  16. ↑ "Friendship Park Airport Checks Exceed $35,000". Steubenville Herald-Star. 11 January 1973. p. 13. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
  17. ↑ "It's Official". The Herald-Star. 15 September 1975. p. 11. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
  18. ↑ "Friendship Park Airstrip's Bids Again Over Estimates". The Herald Star. 30 August 1974. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
  19. ↑ "Bid for Airport Terminal Okayed". The Herald-Star. 1 October 1976. p. 13. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
  20. ↑ Kirker, John (11 May 1977). "Friendship Airport Named". The Herald-Star. p. 17. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
  21. ↑ Kirkner, John D. (12 April 1978). "Shelters Nearing Completion". The Herald-Star. p. 4. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
  22. ↑ Law, Mark (23 February 1994). "Panel Takes No Action on Use of Park Runway". Herald-Star. p. 5A. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
  23. ↑ Law, Mark (7 June 1994). "Steel Valley Dragway Set to Open". Herald-Star. p. 1A. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
  24. ↑ "[Homepage]". Jefferson County Fair. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
  25. ↑ "Campgrounds". Jefferson County, Ohio. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
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