Every day, Hilliard residents enjoy the beauty and spirit of our local parks; however, a lot of the work that went into building and creating these community hubs may go unnoticed.
Richard “Dick” Clark, 89, spent countless hours volunteering for the City’s Recreation and Parks Department on the Recreation and Parks Commission, and was a leading force in creating Hamilton Park at 4000 Berry Leaf Lane, a beloved baseball field where athletes and families gather for youth ball games.
Along with his best friend, Bob Fiets, and many local residents, Dick built the park from the ground up in 1968. But for them, it was more than just a work assignment. It was a passion project that they dedicated their lives and careers to.
“This was how they spent their lives,” said Linda Kilgore, Dick’s daughter. “Once Dad and Bob met, their visions were the same. They saw the same thing. They wanted the same thing — to make a softball park for the community.”
The duo’s vision came to life after the park’s opening in 1967 when they established a softball league for the community. According to Bob’s son, Steve Fiets, the place was a hot spot for athletes and families from not just Hilliard, but across central Ohio.
“It was a state-of-the-art facility for the time,” Steve said. “People came from all over to play because it was in such great shape.”
As the park grew in popularity, it became a family affair. As a kid, Steve recalled helping build a working scoreboard made from old soup cans.
The pair didn’t just stop after they built the park. They started leagues, coached their own teams, and kept up with the other responsibilities that came from running the park.
Bob took meticulous statistics during the games. Dick took care of the fields, focusing on upkeep and maintenance.
Their wives, Shirley Clark and Lee Fiets, were equally involved, operating concessions and managing the park’s organizational needs.
After 40 years of dedication, Dick and Bob handed over Hamilton Park to City operations, where it’s been used for youth baseball ever since.
Bob passed away in 2013, but his memory and work live on. Dick still vividly recalls the glory days of Hamilton Park and continues to preserve its legacy. The men were inducted into the Columbus Slo-Pitch Softball Hall of Fame.
“Not many people know about this park or its history,” Linda said. “But I think it’s so important for our fathers. They left behind a legacy that lives in Hamilton Park.”
