The ManCo Community Park Dedication and unveiling of the BEE Sculpture took place on Friday, June 20, 2025. This event represented the culmination of three years of planning and implementation of the park.
Community leaders, ManCo employees, neighborhood residents, friends, and members of the Salem Avenue Business Association attended this special event to celebrate the newest gathering place on the Salem Avenue Peace Corridor.
Grants from Miami Valley Fair Housing and Montgomery County helped to realize this dream. The park is part of Manco’s Environmental Consciousness efforts and is an outward contribution towards helping to create a more peaceful future on the SAPC.
Setting the Scene for Celebration
The dedication event included jazz music from two of the original Ohio Players, which helped to set a relaxing mood for the gathering. Grey Booker, a budding young chef, provided a delicious appetizer meal, including pulled chicken and pork sliders, rice and red beans, slaw, and baked beans. A representative from Delirium was on hand to pour libations and to provide keepsake glasses.
Erin Rastikis, HR consultant and author, was on hand to do a book signing of her newly released book, Book of YES. This non-fiction novel details the backstory of the development of the culture at ManCo.
Cultivating Growth and Sustainability
Following Jule Rastikis, owner and CEO of ManCo, who spoke about the vision and culture of ManCo, there were well-received remarks from Tracey Sibbing, Director of Policy and Partnerships for the Omega CDC Hope Zone Promise Neighborhood. Tracey emphasized the importance of pollinating the neighborhood to bring new opportunities and growth, just as pollinators in the meadow continue the life cycle for prosperity and new life.
Lamees Mubaslat, Director of the Dayton Regional Green program, and representative of the Office of Sustainability, spoke about the value of making sustainability a part of every business plan, as well as personal agenda. In recognition of the grant from Montgomery County to fund the BEE sculpture and dedication event, Judy Dodge, Montgomery County Commissioner, celebrated her homecoming to the neighborhood and the beautification of the neighborhood by the addition of the meadow and sculpture.
Unveiling the BEE, A Symbol of Flight and Future
Katherine Sacksteder, one of the co-creators of the BEE sculpture along with Terry Welker, spoke about her return to her home in Dayton and the creation of the bee-wing design to celebrate the work of the pollinators in the meadow. Katherine and Dan McNulty, the ManCo employee leading the efforts in creating the meadow, removed the shroud veiling the BEE in some strong prevailing winds. As the wing moved in various directions, one could almost imagine the BEE flying.
More to Come at MUMCP
The celebration continued with more music, food, and even some dancing, representing the joyful mood of the occasion.
Look for more events to be scheduled as we explore ways to make the MUMCP a gathering place for the community.