MAUMEE, OH (WTOL) - Major improvements continue at
the Lucas County Recreation Center in Maumee, but they're not costing
taxpayers a dime because of a unique, ongoing private/public
arrangement.
On Saturday, a new indoor
practice facility opened featuring batting cages, hitting stations and baseball
and softball infields.
In addition, the building
can also be converted into soccer, lacrosse and football
fields.
The county owns all the
facilities at the center, which are leased out to the private firm Great
Sports.
"We felt we could restore
it. Get the children off the streets and help them out. With the obesity problem
in the area, we felt we could do something good here," said Jim DiNoto of Great
Sports.
The county has a 5 year
contract with Great Sports.
It
doesn't make money off the deal but will save money and keep facilities at the
center in outstanding shape.
"Anymore in order to afford
all the things that are mandated by small budgets, we needed to have that
private partnership to really make a difference," said Lucas County Commissioner
Tina Skeldon Wozniak.
Great Sports invested a
quarter million dollars in the hall.
The company hopes to attract
upwards of 20,000 athletes annually, like the Northwest Ohio Lady Irish, a 13
team fastpitch organization.
The women will work out
there 3 days a week.
"It's huge in that it gives
them an opportunity to come down here and work here and work year round. For the
kids that want to play in the winter they can come here and use this facility,"
said Irish coach Bruce Ross.
And it's a facility that
looks like it will be a "hit" with the young athletes.
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