Wally's Bench, water fountain honors Centerburg man

CENTERBURG — Wally Thomen has long supported everything Centerburg. Now, a water fountain and Wally’s Bench along the Heart of Ohio Trail pays tribute to Thomen’s contributions.

It began when Tyler Griffith of RE/MAX Peak helped Thomen sell his home on State Route 3 (Columbus Road).

“I’ve known Wally my whole life. I remember going to his country store when I was kid,” Griffith said. “He has always been a big part of our community and his presence with the farming festival. His homestead had always been an attractive and well-kept property along Route 3.”

There was a separate .1-acre parcel where Updike Road crosses the Heart of Ohio Trail not connected to the rest of Thomen’s property.

“Wally mentioned he tried to donate it to the park district, but they weren’t interested,” Griffith explained.

“I figured I could make it a nice place on the trail for the community, and recognize Wally at the same time.”

Griffith bought the parcel and cleared the stumps and weeds.

“At the time it was so overgrown you couldn’t walk on it. I make sure it’s mowed and as presentable as Wally kept his own place,” Griffith said.

In December 2023, he installed Wally’s Bench.

Griffith got the idea of a water fountain when Del-Co contacted him about an easement across the parcel for the new water line on Updike Road.

“The idea popped in my head that we could work together to do something cool for the community,” Griffith said.

He reached out to a friend, Spencer Shelden, who works for Del-Co. Shelden introduced Griffith to Natalie Linkous.

“I asked if they did community service projects as I had a perfect place for a fountain. She didn’t hesitate and from that point the wheels were in motion,” Griffith said.

“Thankfully they were on board from the beginning. They’ve been fantastic to work with and are the ones that picked out the multi-tier fountain. It’s set up for kids, adults and pets.”

“We saw this as an excellent opportunity to give back and provide a service that directly benefits our community,” Kris Dye, Del-Co Water’s business operations manager, said. “Access to fresh water is vital, especially for those enjoying physical activities like biking and walking, so we were happy to get involved.”

Dye said what stood out the most about the project was how much it aligned with Del-Co’s mission.

“We are committed to providing clean and accessible water to our community, and this project allowed us to extend that mission in a very visible and impactful way. Seeing how the community embraced the idea and how it would directly benefit so many people was especially rewarding,” she said.

It took several months for Del-Co to install the line from State Route 314. After the line was installed, Del-Co crews turned their attention to the water fountain.

Crews installed a service line, drain, and water meter to track usage at the fountain. They laid a concrete base for the fountain.

“The fountain took about a day to construct,” Dye said. “There is still a small amount of restoration to complete, but the fountain is in use. We hope the community appreciates and enjoys the addition.”

Dye said Del-Co takes community service very seriously and believes in giving back to the communities it serves.

“Projects like this allow us to connect with the community in meaningful ways, beyond our day-to-day operations,” she said. “We believe that by supporting local initiatives, especially those that promote health and well-being, we’re strengthening the bonds within our community and contributing to its overall quality of life.

“When we heard about the project, it felt like a natural fit for us to contribute in a way that reflects our core values—providing safe, reliable water,” she continue. “By donating the fountain, we saw an opportunity to support health, wellness, and sustainability in a practical and meaningful way.”

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