Grove City Council has voted to move forward with developing a city-owned and operated community center to be located within the Pinnacle Park area rather than partnering with the YMCA.
The council voted 4-2 on July 20 to approve the resolution for the city center, which describes it as a community-wide asset, providing opportunities for collaboration with community partners, like Southwest City Schools, Jackson Township, Pleasant Township, Village of Urbancrest, the YMCA, the business community and more. The center would offer recreational activities, fitness programs, arts and cultural events, educational workshops and community gathering spaces.
The council has been deliberating for several months about whether the city should build a recreation center or partner with the Grove City YMCA. Previously, the council passed a resolution March 24 that asked the city administration to give council a side-by-side comparison of the costs between a city-owned and operated community center versus a proposed partnership with the existing YMCA in Grove City at 3600 Discovery Dr.
The proposed 188,500-square-foot facility would cost an estimated $97 million to more than $102 million, according to consultant Pizzuti Solutions. It would be paid for from existing Pinnacle TIF revenues. However, Grove City officials could consider putting a 0.5% increase to the city’s income tax on the ballot to help subsidize the estimated $5 million in annual operating costs,
The YMCA of Central Ohio has said projections suggest that 75% ($3.75 million) of the annual operating costs of a city-owned facility would be funded through membership fees, leaving an annual operating deficit of $1.25 million to $2.5 million.
Ann Fowble, a community member who spoke at the meeting before the resolution came to a vote, said a cooperative partnership with the YMCA would be the best and least expensive way to expand recreational facilities for the community.
“There are consequences of your decision that you need to consider carefully,” Fowble said. “If you withdraw your support for the Y and decide to develop a separate facility, it will sow divisions in the community. The Y and the city’s recreation center will need to compete for members and staff. I fear this decision will make a reduction in staffing and programs, not an expansion.”
Council member Alan Sturm, who voted against the resolution, said that while Grove City’s population is growing, income tax revenue has remained largely flat, which may threaten the city’s ability to fund essential services.
“I’m continuing to struggle to reconcile why we would choose the most expensive community center option that we’re being given,” Sturn said
To add new amenities to the growing community, the city not only has to work with the existing YMCA, but it has to build a new center, Council President Ted Berry said.
“If we’re going to be a city of 5,000 people, which we’re going towards right now, that building will not suffice,” Berry said.
Dispatch Reporter Nora Igelnik can be reached at nigelnik@dispatch.com.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Grove City council approves new city-operated community center
Reporting by Nora Igelnik, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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By Nora Igelnik, Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
