Building a Pavilion & Park for All!
Sep 25, 2024
With the dedicated support of 130+ volunteers in August 2024, our Columbus Blue Jackets-themed playground came to life over two days and is now open for the entire community to enjoy. Visit the Eldon & Elsie Ward Family YMCA to join in the fun as we provide a safe and joyful space for children in our community to play, grow and create lasting memories.
OUR VISION:
The playground is the first phase of the Pavilion & Park project, which will help the Eldon & Elsie Ward Family YMCA serve 200,000+ households in the Near East community. This playground will provide a safe and joyful space for children in our community to play and grow. In addition, the pavilion will convene community conversations, programs and services by the YMCA and our community partners, growing our impact with children, families and seniors.
In alignment with the three impact areas of Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility, the YMCA of Central Ohio is thrilled and honored to lead a critical project for the Near East Side community. The Pavilion & Park at the Eldon & Elsie Ward Family YMCA will be open and accessible to the public for individuals and families to gather, play and build healthy spirit, mind and body. Follow our journey as we create a space for all.
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
The Eldon & Elsie Ward Family YMCA playground will provide an inclusive and accessible playground for children and families in the surrounding communities, especially the Near East Side. Proximity and ease of access are essential to outdoor play spaces for children, as well as eliminating transportation barriers. Whether a Y member or not, this resource will be available to the 200,000+ households in the Near East community.
In addition, the Pavilion & Park will greatly enhance the experience and engagement of the Summer Day Camp for children in the Near East Side, and expand child care options for parents when balancing work and children out of school. By providing shade and an open-air, yet covered environment in all of Ohio’s climates, the Pavilion will ensure engagement and enjoyment of more than 120 children on a daily basis during the summer months. It will also offer an added space for the Eldon & Elsie Ward Family YMCA community center to provide a number of services to the 5,100 members, including 1,300+ youth and teens.
The Pavilion & Park will also strengthen community engagement, connections and access in a number of ways. It will serve as a resource for community gatherings, and foster a sense of unity during a time where we all need our “communities” and “villages” for systems of support and belonging. Produce giveaways occur frequently at the Eldon & Elsie Ward Family YMCA location, and this space would allow the Y to provide a smoother, positive experience for participants.
A special thanks to Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, who was instrumental in helping us receive funding from the HUD community project. We also are deeply grateful to The Columbus Foundation and Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation for their generous investment in this project and longtime support of the YMCA of Central Ohio. In addition, thank you to our volunteers from both organizations and others who worked tirelessly alongside Midstates Recreation to build this playground over the course of two days.
