Grove City is moving forward on a proposed short-term solution for indoor recreation, as a potential indoor recreation center remains years away.
Grove City Council voted 6-1 on Sept. 2 to approve a resolution proposed by Mayor Richard “Ike” Stage to spend nearly $28,000 this year on equipment for the former Brookpark Middle School building.
Parks and Recreation Director Jack Castle told city council at the meeting that space at Brookpark could be a “bridge until the community center comes into reality.”
Some council members who have previously voiced skepticism about the idea came around to the proposal, a vote on which has been postponed twice.
Council member Melissa Anderson, who cast the lone vote in opposition, said that she appreciates that it’s a portable solution, but took umbrage with how the building is partially shared with South Western City Schools, which recently opened a new enrollment center there for the district.
Anderson said she’s worried about the safety of the multi-use building and suggested looking for another space that could solely be used for city programming.
Two people from the public testified about the resolution, one in favor and one against. Parks board member Tricia Zelenak said the city should just work on building the recreation center, while Mitch Curry said that his family has been on the waitlist for after-school programming for three years without a callback from the city.
“We need expanded access to affordable, reliable after-school care for our kids. The demand is overwhelming, and the current resources simply aren’t enough,” Curry said.
Some members of the city council have been at odds with Mayor Stage about the future of Brookpark Middle School, which the city can use up to 80% of per an agreement with South Western City Schools. Earlier this summer, City Council passed an ordinance restricting staff time and investment over $10,000 into the facility without approval from the council.
Building a new recreation center could cost the city about $100 million and would take at least four years to design and build, city officials have said.
Anna Lynn Winfrey covers the western suburbs for the Columbus Dispatch. She can be reached at awinfrey@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Grove City Council moves ahead on plans for indoor recreation at former Brookpark Middle School
Reporting by Anna Lynn Winfrey, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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