HEUCKS RETREAT — Construction is underway on a new Oberschmidt park at Heucks Retreat Baptist Church. It will have a playground, a prayer garden, chapel, pavilion and a walking trail and serve as a way to minister to the community. 

Park committee member Tommy Owens and Heucks Retreat Baptist Church pastor Jonathan Guerry said work is now underway for a park for families to create new memories. It will be located in front of the church at 2167 Heucks Retreat Road and will be open to the public. 

The idea for a new playground was born out of the church’s long range planning committee in 2022. Guerry said the committee had a session with a whiteboard where they dreamed up ideas for how the church could better serve the community long term. The park was an idea which could benefit anyone in the community, young and old. 

“We saw a need and a lack of places here for families in the county,” Guerry said. People could come by and bring their family and enjoy the sunset if they wanted to or the playground or walking trail. We wanted to do something to bless the community. There are a lot of families in our community and in our church who have kids with special needs. We wanted this to be a place where anyone could come.” 

An official groundbreaking and celebration will be Sept. 15 around noon following church services. 

Making new memories

Owens said he grew up down the road from Heucks Retreat on a dairy farm. He said the church was a focal point in the area. 

Heucks Retreat School was behind the current parsonage. A foundation from one of the old buildings from the old school is now an event pavilion. Owens said when the school closed the church used the buildings including an old wooden gymnasium where he played basketball and roller skated. 

“People would gather on the weekends. Our entertainment was here. We want to bring that back,” Owens said. “We won’t neglect our other park. There were a lot of memories made out there. We want those same memories in the new park. We want guests to leave with those memories too. It has taken me back, doing this.” 

The park will be named after one of the charter families of the church. Oberschmidt was an immigrant to the area and settled there in the mid 1800s. His family helped found the church in 1903. 

Owens said the family was very influential in the church. In fact, one of the men working on the project is Billy Oberschmidt. 

Plans for the park

Part of the plans for the playground include incorporating swings which parents with special needs children can buckle and strap their child in and swing beside them. They plan to have ramps to have access to equipment and the playground area itself. 

Under the playground, rubber mulch will protect children from injury. The walking trail will be 1,800 feet long and will be paved. Owens said the church’s goal is to finish the playground area first and have most of the park finished by the end of October. 

Guerry said the playground will be fenced in so parents can have a peace of mind with their children’s safety. 

The project will be completed over two phases. A playground, prayer garden, chapel, cooking and small event venue will be in the first phase. The walking trail and larger pavilion are coming in the second phase. 

Heucks Retreat Baptist Church voted as a body to work on the project. Funds were raised to start the project. People can donate to the church to help with the expenses of the park by contacting the church office. 

Owens rattled off several ideas about what the park could be in the community when the project is finished. 

“God is putting so many thoughts and visions in our minds and hearts to minister to people,” Owens said. 

One of those ideas is incorporating crosses into the buildings. Three crosses will be built into the front truss of the larger pavilion. Larger crosses will be placed by the roadway and in the prayer chapel a straight row of crosses will be incorporated into the ceiling design. 

Guerry said the Bible calls the church to be salt and light. A tangible expression of that calling is the playground. 

“If we cease to exist, what difference would it make? We want to make a difference. We want them to know God’s goodness,” Guerry said. “We hope it will be a blessing.”