Plans forming for rec center
A recreation facility could be built in southwestern Auglaize County sometime in the near future thanks to $750,000 awarded to the project from the Ohio legislature.
State lawmakers OK’d a $2.1 billion capital spending plan last week, set to fund state and local building projects. Among those was a quarter of a million dollars for a new facility to house indoor sports.
Angela Hamberg, former economic development director for the village of New Bremen — and a former Auglaize-Mercer YMCA board member — drafted the proposal a year ago. She said the New Bremen Community Foundation and the Auglaize-Mercer YMCA will partner to discuss future management of a new multi-use indoor sports facility.
But the facility itself is still an unknown.
There’s no drawing, footprint or square footage estimate for a building that could address needs for indoor youth soccer, volleyball and basketball.
A site for the facility has not been chosen; however, it is expected to be on land adjacent to the current Auglaize-Mercer YMCA south branch facility on Wuebker Road in Minster.
Hamberg said there’s been a shortage of indoor
basketball courts in
Auglaize and Mercer counties.
In addition, the closure of the Breakaway facility near Celina eliminated a number of indoor soccer courts. She said some people drive to Lima or Sidney or in other cases, stop playing altogether.
Seeing the funding come through was unexpected but Hamberg said she hadn’t heard anything until Rep. Susan Manchester (R- Waynesfield) contacted her last week.
Manchester, who helped with the funding process, said that the goal was to draw more people to the region.
The representative also commented on two New Bremen New Knoxville Rotary Club projects that were awarded funds and said despite hardships in 2020 it is still necessary to invest in community organizations.
One of the projects is a science and education-oriented waterway project, which received $25,000.
The project details are still being developed.
New Bremen Village Council member Jessica Lomakin worked with Rotary Club member Amy Fullenkamp on the club’s projects.
Lomakin was grateful to legislators for the funding.
A total of $7,500 was also granted to the Rotary Club for a story walk. Fullenkamp explained the story walk takes a children’s story and publishes each page over a popular walking route.
Both projects still require village approval for a site.
Wapakoneta projects will receive funding as well.
A splash pad addition to Veteran’s Memorial Park was awarded $75,000.
Mayor Tom Stinebaugh said he and Recreation Director Jack Hayzlett will finalize a plan for the addition to that park.
The Wapakoneta Museum on Main Street was awarded $22,000 for stained glass window restoration. The museum — part of the Auglaize County Historical Society — was pleased to be among those funded, said Rachel Barber, ACHS administrator.
State Rep. Craig Riedel (R-Defiance) said he tried to secure $800,000 for the Armstrong Air and Space Museum but was unsuccessful. He said it will be at the top of his list for the next budget cycle.
Overall, Riedel feels good about the budget for community projects in 2021.