A man, his love of dogs, the power of the pen and the motivation to make something positive from the Oregon District tragedy has led a community to remember Logan Turner, one of the victims slain of that awful August day in 2019.
Soon, a dog park in Springboro's Hazel Woods Park will be named Logan's Bark Park. It will be located inside Hazel Woods Park.
The impetus for the city council's vote to change the park's name came from Geri Day's second-grade class at Five Points Elementary.
The class was learning about persuasive writing when she said she was struck by the idea of wanting to do something for Turner, one of the nine people slain by the gunman just outside Ned Peppers bar the morning of Aug. 4, 2019. At least 26 others were injured in the shooter's brutal attack, which Dayton police stopped when they shot him dead in less than a minute after he opened fire.
RELATED: Logan Turner remembered as 'smart and sweet'
Turner was a 2008 Springboro graduate who had just celebrated his 30th birthday a few days before the shooting. He was out with friends when he was killed.
"I do not want Logan forgotten about," Day told News Center 7's Katy Andersen on Monday. "He grew up with my children and he was like my third son."
She and her class brainstormed. They, with the help of Turner's mother, came up the idea to name the park because of Turner's love of dogs.
The class typed the letters and submitted them to city council. Council voted in favor of the idea Feb. 6.
Not only will there be signage at the park, the school kids are also creating artwork and writing even more about Turner.
The plan is to publish a book.
"I think this is a good way for all these children in Springboro to remember him also," Day said.
It's a lesson that no doubt will be indelible.
