The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
CITY PREPARES FOR OPENING
New recreation center getting finishing touches
The city of Avon Lake will debut a new multicourt recreation center this month at the Artstown Plaza as part of the city’s efforts to diversify west-end development.
Anchor Recreation Facility, 33483 Lake Road, will provide residents with a flurry of winter recreation programming opportunities.
The city takes over the space most recently occupied by Infinity Athletics.
The location also is the former home of the Avon Lake movie theater.
For two years, the project has been in development.
It includes about $130,000 in renovations in a partnership between the city and the Patton family, owners of the building.
Avon Lake Parks and Recreation Director Tim Pinchek was on hand supervising work crews Feb. 7 as they put the final touches on the area which includes a state of the art 70 x 30 foot basketball court along with custom designed batting cages which can descend from the ceiling.
The Pattons installed
“Avon Lake has been starved of some type of a recreation facility, whether it’s a gym, a rec center or something.” — Avon Lake Parks and Recreation Director Tim Pinchek
custom padded sheet vinyl flooring and large fans.
“Avon Lake has been starved of some type of a recreation facility, whether it’s a gym, a rec center or something,” Pinchek said. “Over the years, they’ve tried a few times to pass a rec center and it just hasn’t been the right approach; it just hasn’t passed.
“So, we saw an opportunity to work with one of the local businesses and we’re going to be able to offer programs to residents in the community the city has never been able to offer before.”
The facility has the capability to accommodate volleyball, tennis, baseball/softball, pickle ball, fitness classes and other activities.
In addition, the building has a lobby and reception desk.
The gymnasium also
will ease some of the pressure on local schools by freeing up gym space previously used by the Parks and Recreation department for different programs.
“It really is a win-win,” Pinchek said. “What I think is going to happen is this won’t be enough and it is the beginning of better things that could happen in the city.”
The conversation of the gym began about two years when the space was still occupied.
Pinchek collaborated with Economic Development Director Ted Esborn in locating a space that would meet the city’s indoor recreation needs.
After brainstorming and examining a few different options, they honed in on the space at Artstown, meeting with the Pattons and laying out their vision on the mutual benefits for the city, Artstown and local business.
Although it was occupied at the time, when the space became available,
the city quickly moved on it and made a formal announcement in September 2017.
“(The Pattons) saw the potential right away,” Pinchek said. “They reinvested their own funds into the project. It was a great partnership.
“They’re very excited about the potential that this has. And I think the community’s excited. The word’s out and people have been calling and asking questions nonstop.”
Pinchek said he has fielded inquiries from lacrosse, basketball and baseball leagues about renting the facility on top of the city’s own programs through the Parks and Recreation department.
“We’re going to try to cater to our needs first in the community,” he said. “And if there’s space after that, then we’ll do that.”
Esborn saw the potential of the project to stimulate the city’s west end economy and provide new opportunities for business.
“I came on board a year
and a half ago, and it was made clear to me that revitalizing the west end of the city was a priority,” he said. “So, the unique opportunity that we got here was bringing in traffic to benefit the other businesses in this plaza and nearby while accomplishing a recreation goal.
“It would’ve been a worthwhile economic development project if it had just been to bring in the traffic that we’re bringing in, but to also offer programs and rec services; that’s the big impact to me. But it’s a whole other benefit with the other services we can offer because of the space.”
The Anchor Recreation Center will hold a soft opening Feb. 12. The grand opening ceremony is scheduled for 6 p.m., Feb. 21.
Anchor will host free drop-in programs from Feb. 12-15 and Feb. 22 to March 3 giving the Avon Lake community an opportunity to try out the new facility.