Dedication event for Arthur's Park will be Saturday

Milford Village has set a date of Saturday, Nov. 24 for a dedication ceremony to rename River View Park, which is located across the street from Central Park, in honor of former village manager Arthur Shufflebarger, who died in June.

The ceremony is open to the public and will begin at 9:30 a.m. Saturday to change the site’s name to Arthur’s Park. The dedication will consist of the unveiling of a bench and a plaque explaining who Shufflebarger was and his contributions to the village.

Village Manager Brent Morgan, Village Council President Terri Rusas-George, and other village officials are expected to attend.

The Milford Village Council voted at its Monday, Nov. 19 meeting to approve the park dedication date.

Village Clerk Deborah Frazer has said the village’s goal was hold the dedication on Thanksgiving weekend to coincide with the Huron Valley Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade, which will take place that same day along Main Street beginning at 10 a.m.

Shufflebarger died on June 11 at his residence on Duke Street at the age of 60. It was determined that his death was the result of natural causes. He had served as the village manager since 1990.

A visitation for Shufflebarger was held at Lynch and Sons Funeral Home on East Liberty Street in the village on June 14. Shufflebarger’s funeral was then held on June 15 at the Milford United Methodist Church. He was laid to rest in his hometown of Atchison, Kan.

He is survived by his wife, Kelsey, and his two daughters, Kayla and Ieasha.

Memorial contributions in Shufflebarger’s name are encouraged to be sent to the Milford or Atchison (Kan.) United Methodist churches.

Morgan, the former city manager for Caro, Mich., officially took office as the new village manager on Tuesday, Nov. 13, after Frazer served as the interim village manager during the search to fill the position.