According to Crawford County Now, State Sen. Bill Renieke and Rep. Riordon McClain visited Bucyrus on Oct. 7, 2026, to announce a $400,000 grant for the Norton Park project. The money is from Ohio's biennial capital budget, which the article says is enacted for two-year periods in even-numbered years.
The report says the Office of Budget and Management drafts the capital plan and recommends assets for state agencies and higher education; infrastructure grants and community projects may also be included. The state Department of Natural Resources, called the States Department of Natural Resources in the article, will administer the Norton Park project.
Norton Park is described as a restoration of 2.5 acres of abandoned land on the north side of downtown Bucyrus. The Norton Legacy Group, a private 501-c-3, solely owns and will operate the park. It is scheduled to open in spring 2027 and will include food-truck parking, a plaza for dining and large gatherings, a dog stop, and monuments to Johnny Appleseed and founders Sam and Mary Norton.
Todd Boyer, vice president of corporate communications for The Ohio Mutual Insurance Group, also spoke about the park's expected benefits to Bucyrus and surrounding communities, according to the report. The legislators discussed public-private partnerships and praised the community's efforts to advance the project.