The Observation Deck

It was announced at tonight Lakewood Board of Education meeting that First Federal Lakewood, would pay $692,000 towards the construction of the indoor track at the new high school.

One of the nice things many fretted over losing was the indoor track, which helped not just with high school track, but the hundreds of residents that also enjoyed running on it.

Thanks to First Federal Lakewood, the Indoor Track will be built!

More to follow.


.

First Federal Lakewood has committed $692,000 to the Lakewood City Schools. The funds will go toward building an elevated indoor track for student and community use in the new Lakewood High School athletic wing, which is scheduled to open in Fall 2017. In addition, FFL committed another $150,000 in matching funds if the school district can raise $450,000 from other donors. That additional money would go toward building a community facility at Lakewood High School.

The 7,000-square-foot community facility is contingent on raising the additional funds. First Federal Lakewood will match $1 for every $3 raised, up to $150,000. It would be built on top of the current weight room under construction at the northeast corner of the high school. The facility will include exercise machines, weights and space for exercise classes.
 
Also included would be spaces for education courses on such topics as financial wellness and literacy, entrepreneurship and prevention of elder abuse. It would be operated by the school district through its Community Recreation & Education Department and leadership for such courses would be provided by First Federal Lakewood.
 

I certainly commend First Federal Savings and Loan for its community dedication and commitment. Having said that, isn't a "community center" in direct competition or duplication of a proposed "wellness" center that has been proposed by the City government at the Lakewood Hospital site?

Stan Austin

Two unrelated matters, Stan. The indoor track and potential associated area has been a wish list item ever since we started the high school project. It is consistent with the Board's desire, from the very start, to make the new facilities friendlier to everybody in town. It appeared not to be doable, however this partnership puts it in reach. We still need more donors, but it is all doable.

Ed---- Thanks for your prompt response. It does seem logical to leverage the use of a public facility like a school.

Not addressing the question to you, but did the plan for this facility precede the City administration's proposal for a "wellness" center on the Lakewood Hospital site?

Stan Austin

The desire to make the new school buildings more readily accessible to public use goes back to the start of the project, around 2005. The thought of a public indoor track as part of the new high school gym construction goes back a couple years, when the designs were first started. It was always a nice thought, but we were not counting on getting it done. Now, First Federal Lakewood's commitment has made it very doable. Not done, but very doable.

Stan Austin wrote:I certainly commend First Federal Savings and Loan for its community dedication and commitment. Having said that, isn't a "community center" in direct competition or duplication of a proposed "wellness" center that has been proposed by the City government at the Lakewood Hospital site?

Stan Austin

The High School's Community Center, since it won't provide any healthcare services, won't be in competition with the Clinic's Family Health Center ("Wellness" Center if you will) across the street from Lakewood Hospital site. But, it would be in direct competition with the Summers' Recreation Center, which has been kicking around for a few years now as a possible use of Lakewood Hospital land once Summers "sees this deal through" and Lakewood Hospital is leveled.

Hats off to FFL!

So, we lose our hospital and Summers secures his legacy, such as it is.

Against 64.

An employee at the Lakewood Urgi-Care informed me that the people who are renting the city owned houses on Belle and Saint Charles are being pressured to move. I wonder if this is being done to make room for Brian Power's soccer fields?

I believe there are many persons from Lakewood's present to Lakewood's past that appear to be benefiting from the alleged immoral and illegal sale of the citizen's of Lakewood's hospital to the Cleveland Clinic for a fraction of the worth.

Maybe Summers and Extended Family will take part of the houses for soccer to appease their friend Brian Powers, and perhaps the rest will be used for the alleged house stealing scam involving misuse of government funds that Summers and Extended Family appear to be involved in.