BG Community Center
Town: Short Feature
Back in 1974, the Parks and Recreation department of Bowling Green was charged with constructing a community space that the public could use to gather, exercise, and take classes. A quarter-century later, in the summer of 2005, that the Bowling Green Community Center opened its doors.
The community center features two gymnasiums, a multipurpose room and community classrooms. Upstairs, the fitness area offers a selection of exercise equipment that rivals that of many commercial gyms. Elipticals, treadmills, bikes, weight machines, and free weights make up only a small portion of the 4,300 square foot fitness area. An eighth-mile track circles the upstairs, with three lanes for running, jogging, and walking.
For patrons with young children, the community center houses the Kiwanis Kids Clubhouse, which provides an open and inviting playroom. The clubhouse offers a wide arrangement of toys, games, and activities to keep children entertained. The area is supervised by a trained staff member and is available to children from six months to nine years of age.
The community center was constructed under a partnership agreement between the City of Bowling Green, the Ohio Army National Guard, and the Wood County Board of MRDD (Wood Lane). Under this agreement, the costs of construction, maintenance, and daily operations are split between the three members.
As part of the partnership agreement, the National Guard uses the community center as a training facility. For one weekend each month, one of the gymnasiums is reserved exclusively for the Guard. Wood Lane also has its own gymnasium, which can be rented by the public when not in use.
"[The partnership is] a great way to save money," says Parks and Recreation Director Michelle Grigore, "and to allow the public to use the armory when the Guard's really not here."
The groundbreaking ceremony for the community center was held in the summer of 2001. Construction of the center cost approximately $10 million, with $4 million from both the City of Bowling Green and the Ohio Army National Guard and with $2 million from Wood Lane.
"The real reason that we're in this business," admits Grigore, "is to try to help people put more life in their years."