The Next Big Thing
Posted by Esther Baldridge
on Feb 27, 2012
Rotarians heard three proposals for the Next Big Thing that the Lima Rotary Club will fund. Rotarians will have two weeks to ask questions about the proposals and vote by ballot the week of March 19, 2012.
The Next Big Thing (NBT) Committee was assigned the task of coordinating community projects to be considered and potentially adopted by the Lima Rotary Club. The NBT Committee recommends three proposals for consideration, one of which has a different cost because of a siting issue. They are listed below, with the name of a person to contact for Rotarians who wish additional information.
ROTARY RIVERWALK PAVILION Request from LRF: $26,000
Contact: Sally Windle at (419) 996-3434 or Karel Oxley at (419) 996-3400
The proposal is for a pavilion to be built for smaller venues, preferably for younger audiences on the land at the end of Pierce Street. The pavilion can also serve as break or registration areas for activities along the Riverwalk.
Programs for at-risk youth in our community tend to center around the need for assistance with academic downfalls, tutorials, or lack of educational resources. What if we could do something now to prevent that from happening?
Arts programs motivate kids to stay in school and give them valuable skills that they can use all their lives—discipline, confidence, and the ability to articulate. With spaces for creativity, all children can engage in positive activities that benefit the Lima community.
These are preventative steps now—instead of interventions later. It is our belief that the partnerships with community organizations utilizing the pavilion will give children an opportunity to succeed.
The Lima Schools would be able to maintain the facility housed on the land by the Riverwalk. Due to funding issues needed at this current time in our district, we would not be able to complete the project if the funding would not be provided by the Rotary Club.
MOBILE PRODUCE MARKET Request from LRF: $91,250
Contact: Bambi Markham at 419-222-7946
The Lima Rotary Club’s Next Big Thing will make available monies to purchase and convert an RTA bus into a mobile fruit and vegetable “stand”; help to cover equipment and maintenance during the first year; and meet the expenses of the promotional wrap on the vehicle. The Mobile Market will result in food delivered into several low income neighborhoods around Lima and Allen County. These areas are considered to be “food deserts” which are areas where either limited access to grocery stores or low incomes make it hard to get healthy food. The seven “food deserts” identified (by the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, Economic Research Service) have a population of 18,043 people with 12,129 people with low access—the targeted population to receive the service of this program. Allen County is ranked 84th out of 88 counties for health behaviors, indicating overall decline in the coming years if positive changes occur.
The food bank is partnering with the Pioneering Healthier Communities initiative which is supported by private, government, non-profit and other business entities. A portion of the recent award this group secured to fight obesity in the greater Lima area will help fund this program.
ALLEN COUNTY ABILITIES BASEBALL FIELD: SIMMONS FIELD LOCATION Request from LRF: $450,000
Contact: Rachael Staley at 419-303-8012
The Allen County Abilities Baseball League is a program designed to provide access to athletics for disabled and developmentally delayed individuals. We are requesting funding for construction costs of
a handicap accessible baseball field and complex. The new field is necessary to meet the continued expansion of the league and to adequately meet the special needs of the participants. The league has been in existence for nine years and in 2011, over one hundred participated representing Hancock, Putnam, Van Wert, Logan, Auglaize, and primarily Allen Counties. With this field we believe the number of participants will dramatically increase.
The proposed construction costs of the complex located adjacent to Simmons Field is $450,000, which includes the synthetic field, fencing, bleachers, dugouts, handicap accessible restrooms, an access drive and parking. The land will be provided without cost by the City of Lima.
ALLEN COUNTY ABILITIES BASEBALL FIELD: OSU LIMA LOCATION Request from LRF: $300,000
Contact: Rachael Staley at 419-303-8012
The Allen County Abilities Baseball league is a program designed to provide access to athletics for disabled and developmentally delayed individuals. We are requesting funding for construction costs of a handicap accessible baseball field and complex. The new field is necessary to meet the continued expansion of the league and to adequately meet the special needs of the participants. The league has been in existence for nine years and in 2011, over one hundred athletes participated representing Hancock, Putnam, Van Wert, Logan, Auglaize, and primarily Allen counties. With this field we believe the number of participants will dramatically increase.
The projected construction costs of the complex located at The Ohio State University Lima Campus is $300,000, which includes the synthetic field, fencing, bleachers, and dugouts. The land will be secured by entering into a twenty-five year lease with the University. This site already has parking and vehicle access and future plans of the University include appropriate rest room facilities within the proximity of the field. This location would allow use of the facility by OSU Lima and Rhodes State College Child Development classes allowing event greater utilization of the facility.
ROTARY RIVERWALK PAVILION Request from LRF: $26,000
Contact: Sally Windle at (419) 996-3434 or Karel Oxley at (419) 996-3400
The proposal is for a pavilion to be built for smaller venues, preferably for younger audiences on the land at the end of Pierce Street. The pavilion can also serve as break or registration areas for activities along the Riverwalk.
Programs for at-risk youth in our community tend to center around the need for assistance with academic downfalls, tutorials, or lack of educational resources. What if we could do something now to prevent that from happening?
Arts programs motivate kids to stay in school and give them valuable skills that they can use all their lives—discipline, confidence, and the ability to articulate. With spaces for creativity, all children can engage in positive activities that benefit the Lima community.
These are preventative steps now—instead of interventions later. It is our belief that the partnerships with community organizations utilizing the pavilion will give children an opportunity to succeed.
The Lima Schools would be able to maintain the facility housed on the land by the Riverwalk. Due to funding issues needed at this current time in our district, we would not be able to complete the project if the funding would not be provided by the Rotary Club.
MOBILE PRODUCE MARKET Request from LRF: $91,250
Contact: Bambi Markham at 419-222-7946
The Lima Rotary Club’s Next Big Thing will make available monies to purchase and convert an RTA bus into a mobile fruit and vegetable “stand”; help to cover equipment and maintenance during the first year; and meet the expenses of the promotional wrap on the vehicle. The Mobile Market will result in food delivered into several low income neighborhoods around Lima and Allen County. These areas are considered to be “food deserts” which are areas where either limited access to grocery stores or low incomes make it hard to get healthy food. The seven “food deserts” identified (by the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, Economic Research Service) have a population of 18,043 people with 12,129 people with low access—the targeted population to receive the service of this program. Allen County is ranked 84th out of 88 counties for health behaviors, indicating overall decline in the coming years if positive changes occur.
The food bank is partnering with the Pioneering Healthier Communities initiative which is supported by private, government, non-profit and other business entities. A portion of the recent award this group secured to fight obesity in the greater Lima area will help fund this program.
ALLEN COUNTY ABILITIES BASEBALL FIELD: SIMMONS FIELD LOCATION Request from LRF: $450,000
Contact: Rachael Staley at 419-303-8012
The Allen County Abilities Baseball League is a program designed to provide access to athletics for disabled and developmentally delayed individuals. We are requesting funding for construction costs of
a handicap accessible baseball field and complex. The new field is necessary to meet the continued expansion of the league and to adequately meet the special needs of the participants. The league has been in existence for nine years and in 2011, over one hundred participated representing Hancock, Putnam, Van Wert, Logan, Auglaize, and primarily Allen Counties. With this field we believe the number of participants will dramatically increase.
The proposed construction costs of the complex located adjacent to Simmons Field is $450,000, which includes the synthetic field, fencing, bleachers, dugouts, handicap accessible restrooms, an access drive and parking. The land will be provided without cost by the City of Lima.
ALLEN COUNTY ABILITIES BASEBALL FIELD: OSU LIMA LOCATION Request from LRF: $300,000
Contact: Rachael Staley at 419-303-8012
The Allen County Abilities Baseball league is a program designed to provide access to athletics for disabled and developmentally delayed individuals. We are requesting funding for construction costs of a handicap accessible baseball field and complex. The new field is necessary to meet the continued expansion of the league and to adequately meet the special needs of the participants. The league has been in existence for nine years and in 2011, over one hundred athletes participated representing Hancock, Putnam, Van Wert, Logan, Auglaize, and primarily Allen counties. With this field we believe the number of participants will dramatically increase.
The projected construction costs of the complex located at The Ohio State University Lima Campus is $300,000, which includes the synthetic field, fencing, bleachers, and dugouts. The land will be secured by entering into a twenty-five year lease with the University. This site already has parking and vehicle access and future plans of the University include appropriate rest room facilities within the proximity of the field. This location would allow use of the facility by OSU Lima and Rhodes State College Child Development classes allowing event greater utilization of the facility.