A Vision Realized: $34M Recreation and Wellness Center Opens in Warren

WARREN, Ohio — After decades of discussions, years of planning and the hard work of hundreds of school board members, teachers, administrators and construction workers, the Warren City School District celebrated the ribbon-cutting of its $34 million Student Recreation and Wellness Center on Monday.

The event marked a significant milestone for the city and the nearly 5,000 children who attend Warren City Schools.

“Simply stated, this is a great day for the Warren City School District. This is a great day for the city of Warren and, more importantly, this is a great day for the nearly 5,000 children that attend the Warren City School District,” said Superintendent Steve Chiaro.

The vision for the center originated from community discussions in the early 2000s, Chiaro explained. However, the project began to take shape following a survey conducted in April 2014 by the We Are Warren Project, funded by the Raymond John Wean Foundation.

The district strategically set aside funds and later secured $16.5 million in federal grants following the COVID-19 pandemic to support the construction. The remaining costs were covered by the district’s capital budget, ensuring no additional tax burden on residents.

“A real test of leadership is to think big, and when some people say, ‘We can’t do that,’ figure out how to do it,” Gov. Mike DeWine said. “What we’re celebrating today is a real testament to that.”

After touring the center, DeWine gathered with school board members, students and community stakeholders on the turf field for a ceremonial ribbon-cutting. DeWine heard firsthand from students in the esports and robotics programs about how the programs help them become more engaged and prepare for life after graduation.

The 136,000-square-foot center is designed to integrate physical activity, academic enrichment and social development for students from preschool through 12th grade. The main section of the building features an expansive open space with a 200-meter running track on the ground floor and a walking track above it.

A striking 50-by-300-foot window on the northern side of the building provides a scenic backdrop of Mollenkopf Stadium. The innovative glass includes a pattern of tiny dots visible to birds, preventing collisions.

“This center symbolizes our commitment to nurturing the mind, body and spirit of every student who walks through these doors,” Mayor Doug Franklin said. “Let this center symbolize our collective dedication to fostering a healthy and active lifestyle, promoting wellness and creating a supportive environment where everyone can thrive.”

Among its many features, the center includes study stairs with cushioned seating, fully wired study lounges and a sensory-friendly room tailored for students with autism and other sensory needs. A dedicated space for the district’s robotics teams, a $2 million investment, makes Warren G. Harding one of only three or four schools in the state to have a full practice facility, said robotics coach Frank Bosak.

“We’re definitely the only one in northeastern Ohio,” he said. “It allows us to practice as we play. Same as how you want a football team to practice on turf if you play on turf.

The robotics area spans two floors on the eastern side of the building next to the long-jump area.

“One of the things I think we always have to work on is letting our young people know all the different things they can become,” DeWine said. “How do we expect them to dream it, how do we expect them to work towards it unless they know it exists? That is part of this.”

The facility also includes advanced equipment for the district’s burgeoning esports program, with a new varsity-level esports lab and the original lab now serving junior varsity students. Two golf simulators, accessible to students of all ages, add to the diverse offerings of the center.

Chiaro said next week the school will begin bringing in preschool students to use the simulators to work on hand-eye coordination.

“We all know that kids being healthy is essential for them to be able to live up to their full potential,” DeWine said. “That’s what we want for every child in the state and what my wife, Fran, and I want for our children and now our grandchildren. And that’s what will make our state able to continue to grow.”

The wellness component of the center is underscored by a new satellite facility for Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley, which has signed a 10-year lease with the district for a 6,300-square-foot space inside the building. 

The clinic will include 12 rooms and provide medical services to students and the community. The district is also in talks with another health care provider to add primary care services.

“I’m a big believer in these clinics being based in schools,” DeWine said. “The reason is because my experience as we go across the state of Ohio is there’s one place that is generally trusted in the community, and it’s the school.”

In addition to health and wellness resources, the center will host a student-run bistro in collaboration with AVI Foodsystems, headquartered in Warren. 

“In our soon-to-be-finished student-run bistro, we will be offering our students skills in culinary tactics, hospitality management, entrepreneurship, which are all needed to earn their graduation seals,” Chiaro said.

The project was managed by DeSalvo Construction of Hubbard and designed by Phillips Sekanick Architects of Warren.

“The Warren School District board of education believed firmly that this project needed to be one that utilized local labor and local talent,” Chiaro said. “Nearly every contractor is from our area, and if they’re not, that was as close as we could come.”

The following subcontractors contributed to the successful completion of the project:

• Amthor Steel – Youngstown.
• Ashton Sound & Communications, Inc. – Ravenna.
• Becdel Controls Inc. – Niles.
• Cesco Imaging – Ashtabula.
• DelliQuadri Lawn Maintenance – Girard.
• George Babyak Painting Inc. – Poland.
• Gilmore Design – Cortland.
• Imperial Glazing Concepts – Niles.
• Impression Media – Hubbard.
• Indoff LLC – Youngstown.
• Instinct Athletics – Columbus.
• Kiefer USA – Columbus.
• Kinetic Recreation – McCordsville, Ind.
• Komar Anchor & Drain Service LLC – Youngstown.
• Leetonia Steel Erectors Inc. – Leetonia.
• Lencyk Masonry Co. Inc. – Youngstown.
• LM Construction – St. Clairsville.
• Mack Industries – Brunswick.
• Maderitz Concrete Inc. – Girard.
• Miller Yount Paving Inc. – Cortland.
• Omni Fireproofing Systems – Fairfield.
• P&L Metalcrafts LLC – Youngstown.
• RL Smith Graphics – Youngstown.
• RNL Fire Systems – Lowellville.
• Ryan Carpet Sales & Service Inc. – Youngstown.
• Schindler Elevator Corp. – Cleveland.
• SealTech Caulking & Sealants LLC – Louisville.
• Sentry Fence Inc. – Akron.
• Sightlines Athletic Facilities LLC – Cincinnati.
• Sodexo/Roth – Youngstown.
• TEMA Roofing Services – Girard.
• W.B. Becherer Inc. – Boardman.
• Youngstown Tile & Terrazzo – Canfield.

Pictured at top: Students Jose Diaz, Aspyn Dean, Via Shardy, Micaiah Capers and Sammi Doan join Gov. Mike DeWine and school board members Patricia Limperos, Regina Patterson, Patrick Flanagan Sr., Alisha Alls and Julian Walker for the ribbon-cutting.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.