A Cincinnati health system will operate a massive recreation center set to open in January in North Over-the-Rhine.
TriHealth, a not-for-profit hospital system based in Cincinnati, will manage the 60,000-square-foot
Findlay Community Hub, Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC) announced Aug. 7. 3CDC also shared that Learning Grove, a nonprofit that provides education services in Ohio and Kentucky, will separately operate the Findlay Community Hub's early childhood center. These operators will handle day-to-day operations and memberships for the facility.
The announcement comes after years of Over-the-Rhine residents voicing concerns over the privatization of the $47 million Findlay Community Hub. However, it doesn't mean the Cincinnati Recreation Commission, which operated the neighborhood's previous recreation center, won't be involved in the center at all.
What is the Findlay Community Hub?
The Findlay Community Hub, located at 1811 Vine St., is two stories and will include a roller rink, indoor pool, a gym with basketball courts, and rooms with cardio and weight equipment. The center also has an indoor track and outdoor terrace with workout space.
The early childcare center connected to the Findlay Community Hub, the Farmer Family Foundation Early Learning Center, will serve children ages 6 weeks through 5 years old, according to the Aug. 7 press release.
Will the Cincinnati Recreation Commission be involved?
The Findlay Community Hub is the latest development part of 3CDC's effort to transform Over-the-Rhine North of Liberty Street. The facility replaces the former Over-the-Rhine Recreation Center that was operated by the Cincinnati Recreation Commission. The Over-the-Rhine Recreation Center was redeveloped into the Crossroad Health Center earlier this year.
Some residents argued for the commission to run operations at the Findlay Community Hub so it would remain free. The release stated the center will have an "income-based sliding scale to guarantee that every resident, regardless of socioeconomic background, enjoys full access to the Hub's facilities."
Emily Stowe, 3CDC senior director of marketing and communications, told The Enquirer that while the recreation commission isn't handling day-to-day operations, it could still be involved. She said 3CDC needed to sign agreements with the operators before bringing in the commission.
Stowe said operators are still talking with the Cincinnati Recreation Commission about how to involve the commission in community programming. She said it could help hold events like the city's Rec @ Nite summer program at the center.
Who are the operators?
TriHealth has about 130 locations across Greater Cincinnati, including five hospitals, and employs around 14,000 people across the region. The medical system also operates the TriHealth Fitness & Health Pavilion in Montgomery, Ohio. The pavilion has workout space, a spa, a childcare center, indoor and outdoor pools.
Two early childhood groups − Cincinnati Early Learning Center, Inc. and Children, Inc. − combined to form Learning Grove in 2019. Learning Grove operates 11 other preschools across Greater Cincinnati.
Those interested in memberships can sign up to get alerts and more information on the new Findlay Community Hub website. Stowe said the operators are still finalizing community programming for the facility, which is set to open Jan. 1.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Hospital system to run community rec center in OTR
