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So many years of helping kids have a lot of fun

1 min read

Over 60 years of working to help kids have fun -- well, that's worthy of praise.

And praise is just what retired school teacher Jack Bailey received recently as the City of Lock Haven renamed a playground in his honor.

It's called Jack Bailey Playground at Hammermill Park.

The original Hammermill Park was deeded to the city in 1948 from New York and Pennsylvania Papermill.

It became Hammermill Park in 1965 when Hammermill Paper Co. purchased New York and Pennsylvania Paper Mill.

The two acre park and playground sit between South Summit and Linden streets.

Importantly, this park is a home to the city's Summer Recreation Program, where dozens of kids each summer gather for games, physical activity and exercise, food and -- most importantly -- they are given a real sense of community.

Bailey served the city for 61 years as its summer recreation program director.

Bailey took up the part-time job scheduling activities at the city's parks and the city beach that long ago, only deciding to call it quits in 2019 -- long after retiring as a teacher.

Congratulations, Jack.

What's more, thank you for mentoring so many children over the years as a labor of love.

Starting at /week.