Cole Eichorn, a sophomore at Lexington High School, recently presented his advice to the Sterkel Park for All committee about how to appeal to Gen Z on social media during a Young Leaders Institute (YLI) session. The institute is an initiative of the Richland Area Chamber of Commerce, which brings together high school sophomores to focus on leadership skills, community involvement, and career exploration.
Eichorn suggested that instead of relying solely on Facebook, which is predominantly used by older demographics, the committee should diversify its content across various platforms for broader reach. His peers from the institute gave ideas from holding concerts, tournaments, or movie nights in the park to using traditional advertising methods like billboards, yard signs, and flyers. They also recommended having active social media pages for the park.
Another member advised reaching out to daycares, pediatricians, and schools for spreading the word about the park. It was also proposed that reactivating a group of volunteers, ‘Friends of Sterkel Park,’ would help raise community awareness. “For awhile, volunteers mowed the lawn, uprooted trees, things like that,” Joel Vega, a park committee member, noted while appreciating the involvement of the local youth.
Sterkel Park, located near Newhope’s Raintree residential facility and the YMCA of North Central Ohio, is a part of a $5.4 million renovation aiming to create a recreational space for people of all ages and abilities. The ADA-compliant park will feature five zones enhancing a child’s mobility and sensory skills and supporting senior citizen activities. Presently, the $4.3 million out of the required $5.4 million has been raised to support the project.
The park youth initiative exemplified a larger goal: to engage young people in local community matters. Angie Cirone, the program’s director, expressed her hope that students would develop a deeper attachment to their hometown through this platform.
Source: Young Leaders Institute pitches marketing ideas for Sterkel Park for All
