Recently, the Ohio School Public Relations Association (OHSPRA) recognized Springboro Schools with six (6) Achievement Awards. One of these awards was for the public relations and marketing work on Geri Dey’s, 2nd Grade Teacher at Five Points Elementary, “Logan’s Bark Park” project in 2020.
From nearly one hundred (100) entries, in thirteen (13) different categories, the OHSPRA Board of Directors awarded Springboro Schools as their statewide “Mark of Excellence” Public Relations/Marketing Plan Award recipient for "Logan's Bark Park." Ms. Geri Dey received the “Mark of Excellence” certificate for her exceptional work in leading a project that included a letter writing campaign to city council, a book written by students, t-shirts, media publicity, and a naming ceremony hosted by the City of Springboro.
In February 2020, at the request of Ms. Dey and her students, Springboro City Council decided to name the area set aside for dogs at Hazel Woods Park, “Logan’s Bark Park.” The Dog Park is located at Hazel Woods Park, just southwest of Clearcreek Park in Springboro (3789 W. Lower Springboro Rd.).
The City of Springboro hosted a naming ceremony on August 29, 2020 for “Logan’s Bark Park,” in honor of Logan Turner, a Springboro High School graduate (’08) who was one of nine people that passed away in the Oregon District mass shooting on Aug. 4, 2019.
The park naming was prompted by a letter-writing campaign by Geri Dey’s 2nd grade class at Five Points Elementary. Turner grew up in Springboro and graduated from Springboro High School in 2008. “I’ve known Logan since he was in second grade. Our boys grew up together,” Dey said. “He loved dogs. I considered Logan to be my third child.” Dey said. “Logan is not going to be forgotten.”
Dey’s students wrote letters and illustrated renderings of the park sent to the city council to convince them to name the park after Turner. “One reason is because it would bring people and dogs together,” a handful of the students wrote in their letters. The 2nd graders developed the project beyond the park-naming campaign. “We decided we are writing a book. We named it Logan’s Bark Park,” Dey said. Congratulations to Ms. Dey and her students.